Spring is a season of new life. What are you looking forward to spring forth for you in 2016? What are you hoping manifests in your life that has yet to appear? In certain areas I find myself teeter tottering between working and waiting in my life regardless of what season I find myself in, but I have discovered that the springboard for exploring the deepest depths of my dreams is surrender.
In working seasons I have found myself sometimes labored unto a place of frustration. It seems in these seasons my efforts are in vain, because I didn’t see instant results from my hard work, didn’t have the same outcome as others or seen people who are “less qualified” -succeed as I stood in the background. In those moments I found God teaching me a level of accomplishment and intimacy to be attained beyond my ability to perform, called: inheritance. It’s the love He pours out on all mankind. It’s why He blesses the just and the unjust, because He loves and pursues the hearts of us all. This understanding enables me to live a life which mirrors the miraculous. In some moments of disappointment and excitement when I was promoted beyond my capability, I learned what it was to live a life which actively choses to yield to the miraculous.
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.
1 Samuel 2:9
He guards the steps of His faithful ones…for a man does not prevail by his own strength.
I have also had times where I have been paralyzed, by thought and “rationalized” myself out of opportunity. Fear often masquerades behind the mask of “reason”. Now reason is a gift from God, so I’m not saying it should be cast aside, but I am saying, be sure your reasoning is not fruit borne from a seed of fear, but from an identity formed and nurtured by love. Don’t be shortchanged into settling for things below your calling because you believe a task is too great for you to complete.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.
Mark 10:27
Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
I believe in the power of “and suddenly” moments where an epiphany takes you to a place of great promotion. This moment came for me when I realized my strength lied in surrender. I gave my reasoning, fears, expectations and ideals to God about what I should or should not be and it was a beautiful exchange. I then received the greatest understanding of all: I am a daughter loved by a good father whose desire is to give me great gifts. There’s nothing I can do to earn or lose that love, it’s mine because I am His. When I understood this, I gained the courage to jump off of the fragile platform of “certainty” and plunge into the deep uncharted waters of the unknown. Therein lies my destiny. So take this journey with me sisters! Dare to surrender to love, because God will never lead you astray. Let love perfect you and wash fear from you. Don’t be afraid to surrender what you know to become who you are. It’s Never too Late.
By Kristina Love