Every adult I know has had one of those moments/days/weeks where life became overwhelming. This moment/day/week is usually followed by an epiphany that this is exactly what you wanted, what you asked for, what you thought would be the best thing ever! We couldn't wait until adulthood. Now, to be honest, I sometimes feel as if having a little extra money would resolve all of the complications of adulthood... and though a bit of cash would definitely make certain problems go away, it certainly won't fix every ought I have with this whole situation. There's so much to do, I could also use a couple extra hours in a day. And I certainly could use some extra sleep... so, how about a couple of extra hours in the night? Adulthood is hard.
Responsibilities. Bills. Work. It sounded much more fun as a 9th grade project in Mrs. Tyler's Business and Personal Finance class... I enjoyed balancing Jane Doe's checkbook... but, I can't ever seem to balance my own.
I think there's so much more to it... Someone somewhere tried to make us believe that we had to have it all together. That we had to know how to master adulthood after a two week training period or something. That high school, college, etc. would prepare us for the reality of life in the real world.
Nope. The only thing that's going to prepare us for life is life.
Even the best life skills class is going to leave something out. It's certainly no one's fault... It's just a part of life! Every experience we have is purposeful. [ "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)." ] And though all experiences are purposeful, if you're like me, from time to time you get stuck between the problems in life and the purpose it will serve!
For example, I want to know how to budget (purpose), but I don't want to my monthly expenses to be so tight that I must be disciplined in my spending (problem).
For example, I want to reach my fullest potential (purpose), but I don't want to be stretched outside of my comfort zone (problem).
Anyway, the Lord has led me to walk very slowly through a familiar passage of Scripture. They contain principles that I've learned and am still learning... I hope this helps someone!
1) "The LORD is my shepherd..." - Psalm 23:1a
The LORD is my shepherd. My boss is not my shepherd. My friends are not my shepherds. My significant other is not my shepherd. My paycheck isn't my shepherd. Even though the Lord places other things and people in place on earth to use as avenues to provide, we must forever remember that He is the source! The LORD is my shepherd.
2) "... I lack nothing." -Psalm 23:1b
'I shall not want' is the more commonly known version of the scripture. I love the NIV translation of it because it breaks it down in such simple terms. There's nothing that the Shepherd will leave us in need of.
3) "He makes me lie down in green pastures..." - Psalm 23:2a
I have a hard time taking a break. It's hard to slow down from life's busyness. There is always something to do and always somewhere to be. There is always opportunity to find something to keep me busy. But, God has a tendency to slow me down when I start moving too fast.
Have you ever seen a toddler who recently learned how to walk? They get so excited that hardly anything can stop them... Those legs get to moving and before you realize it, they're legs are moving faster than their body can balance and they end up falling over. Sometimes God stops us before we fall. Sometimes God allows us to fall and comforts us through the pain of it.
4) "He leads me beside quiet waters..." - Psalm 23:2b
'Well, that doesn't sound exciting. That doesn't sound fun and adventurous. God, I thought you had more for my life. God, I thought we were going on wonders and adventures... God, I thought you had more for me than quiet waters...'
Sometimes, that's how I think. At times, my expectations of God's will for my life do not reflect His will, but my own. God does indeed have marvelous plans for me, but why would He lead me to the White House if He cannot lead me to the waters? Why would God give me a platform if I will not accept from Him the peace He has for me? We cannot want the public excitement without the private impartation.
I think there's so much more to it... Someone somewhere tried to make us believe that we had to have it all together. That we had to know how to master adulthood after a two week training period or something. That high school, college, etc. would prepare us for the reality of life in the real world.
Nope. The only thing that's going to prepare us for life is life.
Even the best life skills class is going to leave something out. It's certainly no one's fault... It's just a part of life! Every experience we have is purposeful. [ "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)." ] And though all experiences are purposeful, if you're like me, from time to time you get stuck between the problems in life and the purpose it will serve!
For example, I want to know how to budget (purpose), but I don't want to my monthly expenses to be so tight that I must be disciplined in my spending (problem).
For example, I want to reach my fullest potential (purpose), but I don't want to be stretched outside of my comfort zone (problem).
Anyway, the Lord has led me to walk very slowly through a familiar passage of Scripture. They contain principles that I've learned and am still learning... I hope this helps someone!
1) "The LORD is my shepherd..." - Psalm 23:1a
The LORD is my shepherd. My boss is not my shepherd. My friends are not my shepherds. My significant other is not my shepherd. My paycheck isn't my shepherd. Even though the Lord places other things and people in place on earth to use as avenues to provide, we must forever remember that He is the source! The LORD is my shepherd.
2) "... I lack nothing." -Psalm 23:1b
'I shall not want' is the more commonly known version of the scripture. I love the NIV translation of it because it breaks it down in such simple terms. There's nothing that the Shepherd will leave us in need of.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” – Matthew 7:7-11Our Heavenly father loves us so much that he cares for us even more than our earthly father. Just like the earthly father knows how to give good gifts to his children, how much more would the Father in heaven do???
“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” - Matthew 6:27-30
3) "He makes me lie down in green pastures..." - Psalm 23:2a
I have a hard time taking a break. It's hard to slow down from life's busyness. There is always something to do and always somewhere to be. There is always opportunity to find something to keep me busy. But, God has a tendency to slow me down when I start moving too fast.
Have you ever seen a toddler who recently learned how to walk? They get so excited that hardly anything can stop them... Those legs get to moving and before you realize it, they're legs are moving faster than their body can balance and they end up falling over. Sometimes God stops us before we fall. Sometimes God allows us to fall and comforts us through the pain of it.
4) "He leads me beside quiet waters..." - Psalm 23:2b
'Well, that doesn't sound exciting. That doesn't sound fun and adventurous. God, I thought you had more for my life. God, I thought we were going on wonders and adventures... God, I thought you had more for me than quiet waters...'
Sometimes, that's how I think. At times, my expectations of God's will for my life do not reflect His will, but my own. God does indeed have marvelous plans for me, but why would He lead me to the White House if He cannot lead me to the waters? Why would God give me a platform if I will not accept from Him the peace He has for me? We cannot want the public excitement without the private impartation.
"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." -Matthew 6:6
"But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." -Luke 5:16If anybody should be leading prayer and standing on the mountain top all day, every day, I'd say Jesus is the one. However, if even He thought it was important to slip away and pray, how much more should I?
Don't run from those seasons of quiet and isolation. Maybe the Lord wants to get you to a place where he can settle you, calm you and then refresh you...
5) "He refreshes my soul." - Psalm 23:3a
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." -Matthew 11:29
Our souls are restored, strengthened and refreshed when we find rest in the sovereignty of the Savior. No, we may have not all of the answers and life may not be perfect. But, we know who does have the answers and we know who is perfect. We may be constantly reaching and striving towards a goal, but if we do not continuously feed our spirits, we will only find ourselves exhausted as we pour and pour and pour out.
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 26:10
Yes, your goals are important. But not more important than God. Yes, your dream is big. But it isn't bigger than God. Don't ever forget that God is God. And He will be exalted in our lives above anything else by any means necessary.
I hope that this was a blessing to you. It's been a while since I've written. But, I've been thinking of you all. Don't forget to follow me on Social Media.
Love you and praying that God would bless you always!
Ricki
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