As I ponder more and more Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on Calvary and this Passion Week, I find myself wondering why ~if I truly am a Christ follower~ am I not doing hard things.
Really hard things.
Things that take me completely out of this lavish, opulent lifestyle I live. Things that shape my heart to be more like His. To love unconditionally. To forgive as He forgave me. To fearlessly share His name and the salvation He gives to strangers. To follow His Word…all of it. Not just the parts that “fit” with what I want but every last word He breathed. To do things that matter for Eternity. To humble myself and raise others up. To live a life of sacrifice. To be the hands and feet of Christ.
He chose to walk that dusty road with a tree on his shoulder.
He chose to allow the nails to pierce through bones and flesh.
He chose to die the most brutal, horrible, sickening death ever.
He didn’t have to. He chose to.
Every last sin in this world was hung on His shoulders that Friday afternoon and somehow, someway I think I have the right to think I’m doing hard things?
Sure, some may think I do hard things. If you ever catch me on my really rough days, I’d convince you that I do the hardest things. {Trust me, it’s bad and my husband has more than once told me I could win an Emmy for my starring role in a drama.} Homeschooling isn’t easy. Living on one income can definitely be stressful. Add in the frustrations of life in general. And then I had to bury my daughter. Talk about something I’d never choose.
If God Himself would have come to me in all His glory on March 27, 2008 and asked me if He could have my daughter back, I’d say “absolutely not!”. I most certainly would never have chosen this road…filled with the deepest pain and the greatest agony and the rawest cries I’ve ever known.
I wish I could lie without my conscience eating at me and tell you I fought with Him on that beautiful, terrible morning, too.
But, I didn’t.
Not even once.
The only words He would give me to speak back to Him were “If it’s Your Will, Father…she is Yours”.
He chose this road and ~whether I pitch a fit kicking and screaming the entire time or not~ He will still be glorified and His Will will still be done.
The choice that He made on that first Good Friday changed everything. He did the hardest thing ever imaginable.
What can I offer Him who has done so much for me?
Do hard things. Things that make Him proud and allow His light to shine. Things that matter forever and not just for now. Things that set me apart and never blend me in. Things that He wants…even when my flesh is weak…
He set the example. Now, the choice is ours…
2 comments:
Beautifully written my precious friend. You are doing hard things and He IS glorified through them as you walk this road you would never CHOOSE with such grace and dignity!
Thank you for the reminder and challenge to the rest of us.
Thinking of you this day (the 27th already in Bangkok) especially!
May He engulf you in his love this day!
Beautifully written my precious friend. You are doing hard things and He IS glorified through them as you walk this road you would never CHOOSE with such grace and dignity!
Thank you for the reminder and challenge to the rest of us.
Thinking of you this day (the 27th already in Bangkok) especially!
May He engulf you in his love this day!
Mandy
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