|
The Lord’s timing never ceases to surprise or inspire me. When I felt led to choose this topic to write about months ago, who would’ve known this timing would fall during the Coronavirus quarantine?
A lot of really difficult things have transpired as a result of this virus for many people. Some lost jobs, homes, incomes, their health, sense of purpose, passions and hobbies, and even lives. I know the list could go on. This season forced us all into a sense of isolation, and a bit of questioning in the unknown.
While this all seemed to heighten uncertainty found in the unknown moving forward, I had to wonder if maybe it just brought these questions and feelings abruptly to the surface when they’ve been there all along.
For me, I love being surrounded by people. I also love being busy. Take away some of the 2 biggest things in my life and wow was I hit with a reality check.
I felt completely alone, unseen, and even doubted where my purpose was in the unknown future to come.
Have you been there? Can you relate?
What does it mean to “know”? According to Dictionary.com, it is specifically “to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.”
I had to take a step back and evaluate my heart in what I was believing in my life and the value of my life to be of fact and truth.
When we feel unknown or unseen by others, we begin to allow seeds of doubt to take root; these roots further taint our belief in our identity of who we really are or who we should be. I realized a deeper root we battle is that we tend to allow affirmation to impact the perception of ourselves.
During this season, I felt The Lord challenging me to be the one to impact my perception by standing firm on the declarations in scripture of who God says I am.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
It’s a shift of focus:
AFFIRMATION to ASPIRATION
Maybe God is allowing a season in depletion of physical human affirmation in order to cultivate your spiritual aspiration. When we constantly receive human affirmation, we tend to fall into complacency because we have a return for our work. While it can be the encouragement we need to keep going every once in a while, it can also become a dangerous trap leading us to believe as though what we are doing must be good enough. As a result, our focus becomes inward on how well we are doing.
But our challenge is to press on toward our call to maintain our focus upward on Him. Use these feelings, doubts, insecurities, and or loneliness to ignite a deeper longing for His love - the only love that can fill our empty voids.
“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (ESV)
This scripture proclaims the bold truth that our purpose lies in the gospel. To live our lives that emulate the gospel. To share the gospel. To have hearts spurred on to furthering The Kingdom no matter who is there to cheer us on the way. To trust He will fill those lonely voids and bring a return that glorifies His name.
Seek Him and His will. I promise you have purpose.
You are not alone. You are beautifully HIS own.
@rhiannamarie24 #wheatfulwednesday
|
