Life is an up-hill battle. An adventure.
A constant struggling forward. A pursuit of not only happiness but fulfillment. A living out your best. A leaning into the wind and storms.
Lately the weight of a leaning in life, a pursuit of God’s best for my life has overwhelmed me. I've spent a few sleepless nights wondering how on earth I'm going to find the time to do everything I feel God has asked me to do. A walking out of the talents He’s given me, verses burying them in the dirt until he returns.
I've got a pretty charmed life. I’m a filmmaker. Producing my first feature film. Working in an office of wonderful people, who I get to adventure with. I'm writing a novel and building my author brand with short stories from my dreams.
I’m part of the worship team at church. I have great friends and a loving family. I have all the creature comforts I could want and am surrounded with good things.
And even in the busy of running an intensive acting course, I’m still finding time to explore other things I love like drawing.
But still the lows come and I wonder how I’m going to accomplish everything. Publishing my novel. Pursuing an acting career. Producing feature length films. Honing my skills in all these an more while still living the life of a missionary.
It is a constant leaning into the wind and storms. And that's ok.
In fact it’s the best.
Because without a little conflict, life would get pretty boring. I don't want a life of all highs and no lows.
It's in the lows I remember to crawl back to my Papa and cry for his help. It's then I remember, I've got an amazing God, who is using every present struggle for the working of my good.
His plans are for our good
If there is one thing I can stress to those who are going through a difficult time. Even if it feels like that difficult time is always. On-going.
Do yourself a favor. Turn to Papa God. He's the only one who can meet you exactly where you are.
I've been listening to Hillsong’s, High’s And Lows, and been reminded that when I focus on the struggle — I will be overwhelmed.
But if I focus on God and His phenomenal amazingness — I will overcome. I will find the time for all these passions, because He can lengthen my days by stopping the sun in the sky. He did it for Joshua (Joshua chapter 10). And even if He doesn’t do something quite so dramatic, he gives me wisdom on when to lay on the couch and “zone out” and when to keep pushing on. To find the ancient paths and to walk in them.
As soon as we acknowledge that in our highs and lows that “Lord you’re with me either way it goes”. That stress and worry. That frustration, it will lighten. I don't mean it will go away. I'm still facing a big giants, but my perspective has changed. I can't see the giants, because I'm too transfixed by the glory of my Daddy.
Walking the ancient paths
Jeremiah chapter 6, verse 16 says, "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls."
Oh that we would turn our hearts back to God and take those ancient paths.
Think about an ancient path for a moment. What does it look like? Where would it be found?
I imagine those roads are not easy to navigate. They're probably overgrown. Full of wild things. In hard to reach locations. Where only the brave and courageous can find them.
And even then, I bet they are hidden to the naked eye.
Ah. But don't you know? It is the glory of God to conceal things, and the glory of man to seek them out!
To search something out is not going to be easy. But, it stirs an excitement in my very being that only the Lord can satisfy.
He's told us not to fear, because He's redeemed us and perfected us in his love. Called us by name, and said we are His.
If that isn't enough. He's also given us a promise.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah chapter 43, verse 2
"I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord." Isaiah chapter 45, verse 3
I don't know about you, but I want to find those ancient paths. I want to live my best life to the glory of God. I want to push, nay, to lean into the winds of struggle and embrace the BIG adventure God has called me to.
Even if it is terrifying, I choose Him.
I want to seek out the things God has hidden. To walk forward — through the struggles — and know there will come a day when the struggle will have it's work in me.
And I'll come out the other end a stronger person. A person who’s living my best. Embracing the highs and lows.
Both in faith and relationship to the One who walked me through it. How about it, you ready to embrace your best life by choosing the highs and the lows?
Charis Joy Jackson works as a full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) a non-profit organisation in Queensland. During the day she mentors young adults, teaches on several topics including worship, intercession and how to makes movies. In her spare time she spins stories of speculative fiction and captures her crazy dreams in print. Find out more about her here: https://www.charisjoyjackson.com/
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