Autumn time is here again and how quickly the leaves turn into full vibrant colors glistening through the ray of sunshine on the crisp days of fall. And in a blink of the eye, the leaves have lost their grip, swirling in the wind as they fall to the ground. As I take notice of these changes, I ponder about how life turns the same way in a new and different season. O’ how sometimes we long to stop or reverse the clock to go back to summer. Gazing in the rearview mirror instead of at the road ahead. What is that all about? Is it because we know that the cold of winter is around the corner? Or is it something else? Ponder for a moment – what is making you want to stay where you are at glancing back instead of looking forward? We get glimpses everyday of what is waiting for us. Most importantly, we have God’s word that paints a beautiful picture of what we have to look forward to and what our purpose is while we are in the world. Yet, each day is filled with many unknowns. Many times we refuse to step into those unknowns even when God is nudging us forward.
I think about a particular season of my life and how easy it was to stay in the same comfortable place, being content with life and not seeing any need to change (because of course, I already knew what I went through in the past – why step out into that scary unknown). Life was good the way it was. But you see, it was not good. I was complacent, not growing, and worst of all I was not living by faith, but by my own strength, not God’s. When we find ourselves there in that place, we are not trusting God with our life or leaning on him for strength to step out as he calls us to serve others, but we are living for ourselves. Ouch, that stings. It is hard to ask God the question for Him to reveal my heart – to show me the very things I am blinded to see in myself as I may not like what I see, knowing my heart is deceitful. I believe though, to move forward and grow in faith this must take place daily. How about you – How much of of your life is wrapped up with the cares of this world, living by your own strength and not knowing what is in your own heart to be able to move forward to what the Lord is calling you to do?
To propel us into the forward motion of the unknown as we live now for eternity, three things must be present.
- Live by faith – God may be waiting for you to take that first step by faith for him to reveal the next step he has planned for you. God does at times test our faith, if we are trusting in him, our willingness to obey and to go. Simply put – it does not require faith if we expect God to give us all the details before we move ahead. Take time in Genesis to review the life of Abraham, who by faith left everything not knowing where he was going. And remember Satan loves when you stay in the comfort zone because you are no threat to him. Are you sitting right now all comfy and cozy, content with life, not seeing the need to move beyond your comfort?
- Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. (Psa 37:5)
- Go beyond your fear – what fears paralyze you? God tells us throughout his word to “Fear Not” and that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Yet, we have grown so used to letting fear stop us. Think about it – fear keeps you exactly where you are at and Satan loves to use it. What of God’s best or His purpose for you are you missing out on because of fear?
- For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isa 41:13)
- Trust in the one you cannot see – Trust in the Lord with your whole being and know that he instructs you in the way you should go. He created you and knows every intricate detail of your life and he chose you as his child. Though, many times we find ourselves in a place of little trust. It is hard to trust on a daily basis, letting go of full control and letting God take over. Yet, God never told us this life would be easy, frankly, he tells us the complete opposite – the narrow gate will be hard, but it leads to life and few will find it. Satan loves to spread distrust and to get us to not let go of that control, keeping us exactly where he wants us. How has the level of trust you place in Christ affected your Christian walk?
- Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (Psa 143:8)
Just as a leaf cannot turn back to the Summer green again from the Autumn orange, red or yellow, there is no turning back for us who are in Christ, being a new creation, we must press on ahead walking by faith, going beyond our fears and trusting in the one who is our Lord and Savior.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phl 3:14-15)