"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
As the title to this post says, this is my favorite verse. Why? Because it reminds me that I do not have total control over my own life. And that's a hard thing to admit. I like to believe that I've got my life in my own hands... everyone does. But the truth is that we don't always have everything together. We all have personal things we struggle with. We all fall short of who we wish we were.
In my experience only God can take broken dreams, bleeding hearts, and weary hopes and transform them into something beyond the greatest expectations. God is a God of the miraculous. What is impossible for me is not impossible for Him. All I have to do is look up at the stars. How many do you think there are? Have you ever wondered where the wind comes from? Or how birds learn to fly?
Everything God has created in life has a function, an ability,... a purpose. Everything. Man also makes things for specific reasons. So why don't we believe that our lives have a purpose beyond ourselves? WE DO MATTER. One life can and does make a difference. Our lives do impact others!
But it doesn't always feel that way, does it? Some moments in our lives feel gloomier than a funeral while others feel like heaven itself. Don't let your emotions be the judge of your worth as a person. You are alive which means your life is touching others and that your living has purpose.
Even the simple acts of breathing, waking up in the morning, and realizing our own existence are gifts. They are, at the most basic level, purpose. We do them only when we live.
Don't let life, and all the complexities of modern existence, make you feel small and insignificant.
The verse above is a promise God has made to me.... to you and He NEVER breaks His promises. He doesn't say, " ... he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it if you're popular enough, smart enough, spiritual enough, successful enough..." No. He says, " ... he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Period. It has nothing to do with our ability or inability to fulfill our destiny. Its all Him.
So my sole "purpose" in this post is to encourage you. Yes life can be big and scary and at times unfair. But it can also be filled with love and hope and anything good you can imagine. So... go out and LIVE.
12 comments:
Sincerity! Thanks for stopping by. I'm flattered you enjoyed my post. I enjoyed yours as well.
I have been searching for a new job, one that is actually in my field instead of a steady job that anyone can do. Anyway, sometimes I doubt that 1) I will find anything or 2) that "they" will think I'm qualified. One day my dad was talking to me and he said something to the effect of, "God HAS blessed you and someone will recognize those talents. Don't worry and don't have fear." The job search hasn't ended but at least I'm going about it differently.
The picture of the little leaf next to the large tree made me realize that none of us truly know our potential. Until we allow growth in our life (which is usually painful in some way), we will never know how strong we can be.
Gosh...I should have just written a post on this. Thanks for stopping by!
To 'Believe' in something not easy for everyone, but if we have no faith, we never never communicate with god.
Thanks for dropping by my blog, this give me an opportunity to discover yours. I like it very much.
charlotta-love:
Hello and welcome! Oh man. I totally understand where you're coming from. It wasn't until just this past month that I finally got a part-time job in my field. Its a start but I remember thinking that I might never find it.
Don't worry about what " they" might think of you. God looks at our hearts and the motivations behind our desires. If you trust Him... things will work out exactly at the right time, in the right way, with the right folks.
Hey! I don't mind long comments! Visit again, won't you?
pink ginger:
Welcome! Thank you for your kind comments! I agree. For many folks believing in anything outside themselves seems silly or even impossible. But when life gets tough... everyone searches for " something" beyond themselves.
So... yeah. I think believing in God and studying about Him isn't only healthy, its smart because you're prepared for when things get difficult.
I think that admitting to a lack of control is probably one of the hardest things for anyone to do.
And I also think that, once people do admit this, they find it easier to believe in something greater than themselves.
thethinker:
Welcome and thank you for visiting! I think you make a very good point.
" ...admitting to a lack of control is probably one of the hardest things for anyone to do."
Some people discover this truth early in life while others find it later. And sadly, there are also those who never find it at all.
Wow. I came here to thank you for your kind and generous words at my blog, and you've absolutely reduced me to tears of joy! Powerful, truthful post. Very needed. Awesome and timely in my own life.
Girlfriend, YOU are an encourager. Love that scripture, too. Thank you for sharing from the heart. {{hugs}}
I do not have total control over my own life. And that's a hard thing to admit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AMEN, hard to admit but once you understand this is the ONLY way, it does become easy to have GOD take
over :-) I made many mistakes doing it my way & glad he is working on me daily!!
Great post thanks for sharing
Beautiful post my sweet friend. Your favorite quote reminds me of one of my favorites ...
"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
I agree that we are not in control. Even less than we know. And yet things do work out, exactly as they should. If we only trusted that, we could stop worrying so much and begin living.
vicki:
You said this post was " Awesome and timely in my own life." I just think its amazing how God knows when we need encouragement.
He had encouraged me to write this post several days ago, before I even knew about your struggles. I'm just as encouraged to see how He's using this post as you are! :)
bob gentile:
You are so right! God is working on each of us daily. There is always something in us that can improve but many times He is the only one who knows exactly what it should be.
dan:
Things do work out even when we can't see how-in-the-world they will. I find great comfort in knowing that there is someone bigger, smarter, and stronger than I. He fights in my corner when I'm too weak and He moves the world to make things right for my life.
I'd never heard it translated as "perform" but rather as "perfect" (as in the verb). I like this translation... what translation is it?
a life uncommon:
Hey there! The translation you see is the King James version. In my opinion it is the most poetic of all English Bible translations.
This version is also most commonly quoted for the famous Psalm 23.
"... Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,..."
The Bible just takes on a new shine in the King James version. The whole thing just sounds so poetic, romantic, and epic. Old English can be hard to understand at times but it is lovely to hear. :)
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