“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” – James 1:9-11
Her husband had just lost his job unexpectedly and she was reaching out, asking for prayer.
“Oh friend, I know how you feel…”, I began to type as the memories flooded my mind.
Her words could have been mine just a few years earlier. What was supposed to be an exciting time in our lives as we prepared to welcome our first baby into the world turned into a time of grief and uncertainty as we suddenly faced an unknown future.
I knew something was wrong the minute he walked through the door much too early before the end of one workday. The baby was due in two short weeks, and with great joy and anticipation of becoming a new mama, I had just quit my full-time job the week before. Where would we live? How would we pay our bills? Topics like health care and diapers became sources of tension instead of blessing.
“But God,” I prayed. “I like this town. These friends. This church. This humble little house that we’ve made our own, with this just-finished nursery…”
God, please don’t take me from this place.
And just like that, I’d confessed where my security lay – in the familiarity of landmarks and living rooms; in the abundance of stuff and solid bank accounts – instead of in the matchless God who has held my every tomorrow in His hands right from the start.
In our young marriage, that job loss initially seemed devastating. From God’s perspective – and eventually ours – it was an invaluable time of refinement and growth; something that we wouldn’t go back and change now even if we could. We learned to evaluate what were true needs and what we could do without. We grew less impressed with ourselves and more impressed with Jesus and our great need for Him. We identified and painfully surrendered sinful idols in our lives. God tore down walls of false security. Our appreciation for simple things, for the miracle of new life, and for one another grew and filled us with joy even in the midst of uncertain days. I was clinging so close to Jesus during that time that I often found myself praying…
God, please don’t take me from this place.
Don’t take me from this unstable worldly place that provides such sweet, stable communion with You.
The stuff of this earth will never satisfy, and it will all eventually fade away. But because of Jesus, there’s so much more to this life than what we can see. Through each trial and every necessary surrender God is writing our stories, and He wants us to lack nothing (James 1:4) in His process of making us more like Him. Why would I ever dare to think that my plans or any worldly provision could top that?
What about you, friend? Don’t ignore the work God wants to do in you. Don’t waste another day pursuing the things of this world like they will make or break you. Rest in the hope and security that only Jesus can give. Embrace where He’s placed you. Walk humbly. Trust Him fully. Live gratefully. And rejoice in knowing that you’ll look a little more like Jesus coming out the other side.
Oh Jesus, if I boast let me boast in You…
At His feet,
Let’s talk: Does your security lie in heaven or in the stuff of earth? Is there a materialism idol in your heart that needs surrendering?
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My husband was recently cut to part time and lost his insurance. Things are tight but manaright now. We are looking to move but for 3 months every door has been closed. We have prayed and prayed and know we ar to move but there has been silence from God on the details. I am learning to take my hands off and let God be God. My prayers have gone from a grocery list of things I need Him to do to a simple cry of “Your Will be done”.
Lacey,
Thank you so much for being with us and sharing your story! Even though we don’t know the outcome nor understand the journey, we know God is working in our lives to prosper us. Praying for your family’s needs to be met, answers and direction given and faith in Him to grow even stronger than before! He turns our mess into our message to share with others. God Bless You!
He is faithful to deliver. He makes all things beautiful in its time. I prayed and asked God to search my heart and lead me in His everlasting ways when I begun to be anxious when my husband lost his job and we were in a foreign land… Its a journey of trust that our Father leads us and He is always there with us even when we feel like He is not saying anything. May His will be done in your life and as you wait on Him may His peace that surpasses human understanding keep you.
It’s so true the things of this world will never satisfy us and it will all eventually fade away, Yup they will make us or brake us! That was so powerful the way you out that. There was a time in my life that I lost everything and I mean EVERYTHING!! It’s a long story?. I was going through a divorce.
I’ve learned to be thankful for what I have and how far God has brought me. I may not be driving the car of the year or be a home owner. Thank You Jesus you’ve kept your hand upon my life and children, Hallelujah!!
Marizza,
Thank you for being with us on the blog today and for sharing. Sometimes we do lose everything. It’s a difficult road, but the fact that you have been able to be thankful and seen how far God has brought you, Amen! Praising God with you! God bless you!
This has been something I struggle with! I was just saying this morning how insecurities tend to creep up in me when I compare myself to others in many aspects of my life and the enemy uses that frame of mind to fill y head with lies. My goal for this year is to stop relying on people or things to validate me but to place my hope and trust in Christ Jesus and get my validation through him ALONE!
Nicolette,
Amen!! That is a wonderful goal and I am right there with you! Praise God and thank you for being on the blog with us today. God bless you!
I seem to be guilty of “ebb and flow” behavior when it comes to where I let my securities lie. Some days, I’m believing Him for something big and the next, I seem to not trust that what He has given me in a circumstance will be enough. May I grow into far better consistency in trusting Him in everything, all of the time!
We all find ourselves in that ebb but the beauty of our Father is that His mercies are new everymorning and He will give us wisdom when we ask to enable us navigate in this world. He sees your desires and will strengthen you and guide you on the road of consistent trust in Him. The disciple of Jesus said I believe heal my unbelief and He was with Him through the journey just as the Holy Holy Spirit is there with us. Every day we press on toward the mark of our high calling
Thank you!
Our culture is so focused on materialism that it is difficult not to put our contentment, our hope, our security, and even our faith in those things! But HE is our ALL in ALL!
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