Even if you see your life as beautiful, even if you are pursuing abiding joy, even if you are obeying the commands of Him who made you that doesn’t mean your life will be easy. It’s not a formula.
God doesn’t look across the table saying, “Let’s make a deal. If you do x, y, and z, I’ll promise that you’ll always be happy, have everything you want, and live in perfect stillness.”
He does say, “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. Give me your burdens, I will carry them. With you me, you’ll always have what you need. It may not be what you think you need, but you will be provided for. I guarantee it.”
We often think of beautiful as perfect. If something is beautiful then it’s the highest quality, the object of attainment…perfection.
But what if beautiful means broken? Humble? Dependent?
What if beautiful meant desperation?
Abiding in Jesus isn’t easy. It’s not a surefire way to have all you’ve ever wanted. But if you abide in Jesus, if you take this challenge to see life as beautiful–even the messed up, broken moments–you will have all you need.
And what you need is enough, but it doesn’t mean easy.
You will fight your will. It will happen every single day. Without fail.
You will struggle to serve.
You will look to see the beauty in dense fog and be meet with thick, hazy nothingness.
It will not be easy, but meeting Jesus in the chaos, calling out to Him to save you, settling yourself in the shadow of his protection and resting…that is worth it.
You will find yourself one day in the midst of your world falling down around you–may it be screaming kids fighting obedience, a newspaper before you circling job descriptions, or a house in shambles–and you will feel this peace.
It can’t be explained, but Jesus. You’ll realize in your flesh this would never be possible,
and then you’ll smile.
There will still be other days, but for now—abide.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this.. I love the idea of beautiful meaning broken, humbled etc. Great post!
Great post and reminder for me today. I often think we define perfection wrong. Perfection is wholeness – we are only complete when we abide in Him. Good thoughts today.
This abiding in Jesus thing has been popping up in my life a lot lately…hmmm…think He’s trying to tell me something?
I just found your blog yesterday and I’m so glad that I did.
Jessica – This was beautiful, a good word to my soul today, a day that has been hard in so many ways.
I wrote about the hardness of my life right now and linked back to these healing words of yours in a little thing I do each week called There and Back Again. It’s my way of reaching out to other High Calling bloggers and connecting with the heart of what they are writing about.
It’s a joy to meet you today. And blessings to you as you abide in Him.
Pursuing Jesus we find our desire is for him. I love that challenge to press in and dwell in his peace!