How in the world are we already two weeks into the month of October?!
The blog may have been placed on hiatus for a little while, but I am SUPER excited about what the Lord has laid upon my heart. I will write honestly and share that I have recently experienced some spiritual burnout that truly brought me to the point of reevaluating the state of my priorities while simultaneously embarking on a journey that I have never enjoyed:
The journey of change.
The word 'change' simply means to transform or to make the form different from what it is or from what it would be if it were left alone.
The Lord placed it on my heart to make this into a little mini series that I hope and pray that we can cram into a two-week timeframe---and I want to kick things off by sharing a special thought that truly is a wonderful reflection of change in my life that I know could only have come from Him.
Most of you that follow me online know that I was officially diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome five years ago--it's a super common hormonal disorder that affects women of child-bearing age. I was first placed on Metformin and encouraged to switch to a low-carb diet.
I initially chose to deal with all that PCOS entails on my own and thought that I would be okay but it slowly grew into a situation that was unbearable and out of control. I went to see a new physician two years ago and was immediately placed on hormonal birth control after describing my symptoms (medicine that was added alongside Metformin) It was a GAME CHANGER. Easily the best decision of my life (second to trusting in Christ for salvation, of course).
While it isn't a cure, the treatment does alleviate the symptoms.
That same sentiment could be applied when discussing our inherently sinful nature:
While salvation doesn't completely rid our lives of sin, it does provide the ability to deal with it and to overcome it.
It has been my heart's desire to write out this thought for quite some time & in thinking about the benefits of introducing treatment into my life, I couldn't help but to reflect on the power of His saving grace and what it could do for someone who may be choosing to simply deal with whatever life has thrown at them all while living in a state of misery and defeat--constantly trying to convince themselves that they're okay to deal with it all on their own. Psalm 146:3-5 warns against sole reliance on self or worldly wisdom.
"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:" (Psalm 146:3-5)
Some may vehemently refuse that beautiful gift of grace because they're choosing to live in an unhealthy state of pridefulness. I still remember spending the first three years of my diagnosis without birth control because I was fearful of how much it would change my outward appearance. I was teeny tiny and wasn't at all ready for the inevitable weight gain. I don't think I fully grasped the seriousness of it at all---I thought it was no big deal and that it would never escalate beyond the initially mild situation.
Those who are prideful aren't willing to change and honestly never imagine their lives escalating to that painfully unbearable point---Satan continually deceives them daily by convincing them that they don't need help but the truth of the matter is that they will never possess any lasting hope without first experiencing God's grace and mercy.
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." (Proverbs 26:28)
Lastly, there are those countless souls who have dabbled with going to church on Sunday mornings only to have been met with an experience that only pushed their hearts further away from the One who loves them the most; leaving them with the thought that says "if that's what a Christian is, I want nothing more to do with it."
Isn't that the most devastating picture? Let me tell you another little story:
When I was seventeen, I gave non-hormonal birth control an honest try (for issues that I now believe were the initial beginnings of PCOS). The side effects of this particular medicine were terribly distressing and discouraging; within days, I developed the worst cystic acne underneath my skin. It was horrible and I remember that feeling of never desiring to go through that again.
I have since found the perfect fit for my situation and I will be forever grateful that I gave it another try. I will never forget what I was told ever so gently this time around: if this particular combination doesn't work for you, there are fifty seven other pills we can try. That memory still brings a smile to my face today. He was ready and willing to go the extra mile to alleviate my struggle and that meant the absolute world to me.
The moral of the story? You may have lived through a terrible church experience but you should never allow that to keep you from seeking the Lord or from desiring a relationship with Him. Visit different churches until you find the perfect fit.
Today's message is sort of all over the place, but I hope and pray that someone somewhere fits into at least one of these categories and that the Lord would use it to tug on their heart. Perhaps it will enlighten and encourage others not to give up on experiencing the love of Christ. I want to close with this little poem that He placed on my heart:
Giving your life to Jesus, doesn't mean you're trouble free,
It doesn't mean your steps with Him won't ever be wobbly,
He will simply shine His light so that you may surely see;
cause sooner or later, I'd bet you'll be needing it, probably.
He gives unspeakable joy, everlasting hope, and unconditional love to those in the palm of His precious hand;
He encourages all who will listen to follow His command.
Giving your life to Jesus doesn't mean you'll be without sin,
but by following Him in obedience, the power to overcome it all will reign from within.
I hope and pray that one day you'll see,
That giving your life to Jesus is what truly sets you free.
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon," (Isaiah 55:6-7)
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)