life’s about the j o u r n e y

february 7, 2020

“Nothing else will do, I just want You…” Cody Carnes.

You know, life is all about the journey. God’s been teaching me that over and over and I’ve been trying to remember and live by it but sometimes it’s hard and I get caught up in the day to day and my long list of “to-do’s.”

We think our life is about achieving all our goals. If _____, then I’ll be happy, complete, satisfied, etc. Fill in with your own words and scenarios because we all do it, time and time again. We focus on all the things we need to do and want to get done. Goals are great and dreams are lovely, put into our hearts by God but they shouldn’t be our focus. Everything in our day to day is an opportunity to share and honor Jesus. Our attitude and daily perspective should be that of “how can I serve you today?” Inviting God in each day, each moment to use us as His vessel, to work through us how He wishes. Let me tell you, it’s almost always never how we’d think or want, but if you didn’t know, this life isn’t about us.

“How can I serve you today?” It’s not about you and your doctor’s appointment this morning – it’s about how you can listen to the receptionist who might need a kind ear to speak to, the patience and politeness you can give the doctor who is running behind in today’s visits, how you can complement the person sitting next to you in the waiting room, or just give a smile to others even if you’re not feeling it inside. It’s not about how you’re running late and the check out line at the store is taking forever and the little old lady scanning everything is talking your ear off. It’s about how YOU are in that line, at that exact time and you can politely listen, not scowl, smile and make her day.  Y’ALL. THIS LIFE ISN’T ABOUT YOU. Those things and more can be frustrating but they’re all opportunities to show grace and kindness, to bestow love and leave hope. They’re an opportunity for someone to bump into Jesus. Stop making your day and focus all about you. We get upset about so many things we can’t control and we let it get to us and that negativity comes out onto those around us, not to mention it sits in our hearts and affects our own lives. If you can’t control it, let it go. You can’t control how long the line at the DMV is going to be so don’t get angry and impatient, be patient, gentle and kind. You can’t control that your appointment is running late – you don’t know what each person is going through that day. You can’t control the guy that cuts you off while driving or the rush hour traffic you’re stuck in. So why let it get to you? Let’s gain some perspective and give a whole heck of a lot of grace.

It’s about the journey – the process and the waiting. It’s about encountering God each and every day through the common place, every day things. Your smile to a stranger while walking your dog or strolling your baby might give them hope they had run out of. Your compliment might give someone the strength and courage to start again at something they had given up on. Your kind words, sharing your heart might encourage someone to forgive. You don’t always know how or when God is working through you so be kind, be patient, give some love and understanding, some respect, speak truth wrapped in grace.

Yes, this life is filled with a list of things to-do, most of which we categorize as “adulting.” There are things that need to be done in life; you do need a job to get money to pay for a house, food, insurance, etc. Instead of our focus being on accomplishing and checking off our to-do list, we should look at each item on our list as a means to offer an opportunity to have have others bump into Jesus, through us.

Start your morning by praying for God to show you your heart, offer it up to Him to use today. Ask for Him to speak to you when you encounter others, what do they need to hear or see from God in that moment? Ask for the fruits of the Spirit to be evident in your life throughout the day. “Ask and you shall receive…” /Matthew 7:7/ Ask for help. Ask for grace, peace, love, hope. Ask for Him to work through you on someone else’s behalf. Remember that God will give you what you ask but you also have to do your part. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” / II Corinthians 10: 4-5/ When you feel anger, frustration, selfishness, an unkind word come on, capture it and bring it into captivity. You cannot let your feelings run your life. 

 Guys, God created this beautiful world, the earth and space and everything beyond. He created relationships and love, a spirit and a soul. We’re meant to connect and live in community. He created the waterfalls, the majestic mountains, deep canyons, peaceful lakes, and the mesmerizing ocean for our enjoyment, to woo us. He paints sunsets before our very eyes to show us how He loves us intimately. This world’s broken; we can see it in the way a parent leaves their child, abuse, hurtful words, lies, stealing etc. It’s not how life was supposed to be. So the bigger issue is making sure everyone hears of Jesus. We’re here to help in the battle we can’t see – the battle for people’s souls, for eternity. We get so focused on our fleeting lives here that we stop advocating, fighting and praying for those around us. Your biggest issues aren’t your job, your school, your appointments… even though they’re important and necessary for this world they’re not the end all. It’s not about your class or graduating on time, if ever. It’s about who you meet in your class or your job, at your appointment or on your way to an event and how you can be there for them. In a smile, a kind word, an offer to hang out, a hug, encouragement, truth with grace…

Life’s about the journey. It’s not about accomplishing all the things we’d like to. Use your to-do list as an opportunity to have God work through you and have others bump into Him as needed. Plant that seed, or water it. Let’s re-focus why we’re even here. Let’s not get caught up in the petty things of this fleeting life. Let’s not get upset or rude about the things we can’t control, or even the things we can. Let’s learn to seek God in the every day, common place things because that’s reality of where we live. We’re meant to be in relationship with Him, that’s daily… He wants to sit with us while we work, hold our hand while we’re anxious, go for a run with us, and hug us when we cry. It’s about friendship with Him and then sharing that friendship as we encounter others in our day to day.

He’s in the waiting. He’s in the process of it all. Life’s about the journey and not the destination.

So take a deep breath, ground yourself with your “why” and pour out a whole heck of a lot of grace – for yourself and for others.

live with abandon.