The ebb and flow of days filter into my consciousness as the memories which make up the cycle of living are rehearsed.
For me, memories mostly consist of hearts whose love left deep rooted paths into my own. Isn’t that how it is supposed to be? We are meant to leave an imprint upon the living, a tell-tale sign we were there.
Sometimes the signs that remain leave a broken trail behind, I am sure we all have them. I know we do. Brokenness leads us to seek after new life over and over, like a record that continues to skip or the static that used to roll over the TV screen when the station ended programming for the evening.
These trails we follow seem to lead us unceremoniously from one place to another, but do they really? I read in 139th chapter of the book of Psalms that this God who holds the universe in His hand has also known my traveling. He has known my path and is acquainted with my ways, it says in verse 3. It struck me then, as it does even now, that God would have time to be acquainted with me. His sovereignty is revealed in verse 16 to remind us our wandering comes as no surprise to the Ancient of Days.
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there were none of them.”
And the realization of this truth awakens a new hope within. New living emerges when truth touches our hearts and we are freed to accept its offered gift. With it chains of bondage are broken, replaced by love’s promise.
Fear often became an obstacle that kept me from moving forward. I willingly chose to stay as close as I could to the safe road. Rejection holds a tight grip upon the heart that doesn’t know its worth. Even now that I know truth, I find myself often testing the water’s turbulence before I venture out into the ocean beyond.
There are times when I bound in feet first and eyes closed, trusting that something good will come out of the blind leap of faith. Yet, when the heart is involved, we carefully calculate, instinctively shielding the tender places, considering heavily the ultimate cost before we take the risk. Thankfully Christ chooses to pursue us beyond the safe places.
My need for acceptance always got in the way of my purpose to be uniquely me. Fear kept me from finding hope. I chose to please others rather than please the One who had seen my path and measured my days.
When the desire to surrender surpassed the urgency to hold tightly to fear of the unknown, I let go. Embracing hope, I took the hand that that offered life, recreated and new by the entrance of One.
One moment was all it took, instantly changed, bound for something more. For the first time I understood just a portion of this grace thing that would become my passion.
Like a butterfly that emerges from a cocoon bursting with miraculous hope, freedom sealed my soul and broke the chains kept bound by fear. In Christ, we are promised the blessing of freedom from the broken, “ the old has passed away, behold all things have become new.” ( 2Cor.5:17) Hope released me in love to find the new life His truth prepared me to live.
Blessings,
Linking up with the High Calling Community today writing about ‘Finding New Life’.
Finding grace with friends:
Saturday Soiree Party, Still Saturday, Missional Women, Fellowship Fridays, Thought Provoking Thursday, Essential Things Devotions, Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop,The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, Equipping Godly Women.
Oh friend, this:
“Fear often became an obstacle that kept me from moving forward. I willingly chose to stay as close as I could to the safe road. Rejection holds a tight grip upon the heart that doesn’t know its worth.”
I have walked that road too! Leaning in to Brave with you, for we are already #Preapproved!
Blessings!
~Karrilee~
Then I am in pleasant and beautiful company Karrilee! Thanks for sharing and encouraging. 🙂 I am reading Jennifer’s book right now, so your confirmation is a blessed encouragement to my heart!
Bless you!
Dawn
Oh Dawn, this really speaks to my heart. I’m writing this week about being authentic and intentional. Being the unique creation God made. It’s hard though isn’t it? To live with His strength, let go of fear, and live surrendered to the One who knows us best and loves us most. Thanks for linking up at CMB.
So pretty 🙂 Yes, moving ahead is hard. I’ve definitely been there, done that. But it is SO good when we finally just relax and trust. We just have to have enough faith to find out. Thanks for sharing on Equipping Godly Women Fellowship Fridays!
To live a surrendered, grace-filled life is truly liberating! In Christ, we are born again and blessed, forgiven and free, made new and made alive!
Dawn, how “coincidental” that we are neighbors at Essential Devotions and both wrote about fear being an obstacle to moving forward. Some themes are common to everyone, aren’t they. I pray we both find courage to go on the path that the Lord has for us.
This little quote has a lot of depth to it. It’s definitely something I will be thinking on.
This is beautiful! I can especially relate to, “My need for acceptance always got in the way of my purpose to be uniquely me. Fear kept me from finding hope. I chose to please others rather than please the One who had seen my path and measured my days.” Oh how I wasted so mush time and energy trying to please man. Have a blessed week.
“Rejection holds a tight grip upon the heart that doesn’t know its worth” tells me we often choose Old Life over New Life — just because we might have failed at one point. Isnt it strange? We choose the decaying and ruinous world just because its’ familiar.
Thank you for participating in the High Calling Linkup. We will be featuring this post Friday afternoon. Well done!
David Rupert
Community Editor
The High Calling
You are right, David. We do chose what is often worse for us because it is familiar. Thanks so much for your encouragement and for the opportunity to share at The High Calling Linkup.
Blessings!
Dawn