Wednesday, April 24, 2013

wounds


So much of me wants to step over the edge to what I cannot see. To truly live by faith.

I feel a push to choose the unabashed faith-living where I am certain of what I do not see. Just as I wonder what it would be like to go there, I scratch my way back to where I feel more secure, where I can see what appears to be most Real

I've been contemplating crazy God-sized dreams that have followed me around in the *whirl and twirl* of my days, wondering about the possibility of their realness. And I've been taking steps to pursue them -- deliberately. boldly. bravely. When I don't see evidence of what I hope for, doubt nags at me.  

The other day, my son took a lacrosse ball to the chest without his pads. Though unintended, the shot went directly at him, leaving an obvious mark that was overwhelming to see. It wasn't until I saw the wound that I understood the magnitude of the blessing. I felt the pangs of what if, and guilt began to gnaw at me for how my grip is so tight.

It changed me to see the mark.

Looking down at my fingers, I notice how they grip so tightly. Even though I know I can loosen them, I am humbled to realize my own fears hold back my faith-living and cause me to wrestle doubt as much as I do.

I'm human. I create idols and my comfort is based around them a lot of the time. I can say that I surrender and I can try not to live for anything or anyone other than Him, but the truth is that I do. And, He's mostly okay with it. His grace is big enough to give me permission to be me right now with all my doubt.

He allows this process of growing.

Thomas was given an opportunity to see Jesus after He was crucified, to see His wounds. God didn't have to do that for him -- to respond to his doubt -- yet, He allowed Thomas to see. Jesus even remarked that Thomas was blessed because he saw.

Seeing is what changed me.

It was a gift to see the mark where my son was hit -- to have a greater understanding for what could have been, and to consider what didn't. Part of me feels shame for being affected by a wound as much as I have been and I am tempted to shrug it off as no big deal.

What it represents is Real.

I don't want to minimize Him in my life, especially for His purposes -- even for these crazy dreams that may never come to be in the way I imagine.


Share your heart . . . add a comment below.

_______________________________________________




Dream God-sized Dreams

Follow A {Grace} full *life* on FacebookTwitter and Pinterest.

You might be interested in this:

9 comments:

  1. "His grace is big enough to give me permission to be me right now with all my doubt."

    I think that the notion that we have to believe 100% in order to receive the fullness of God's blessings sometimes what is the obstacle to them. I do this sometimes, too, thinking that I don't believe enough. But the faith of the mustard-seed is all that is needed. I think instead of trying to get rid of the feeling of doubt, it's doing it anyway. Faith is revealed more in action than in thought. So, it's okay if sometimes it doesn't feel real or it's scary. I think with the way that God designed the world, it's kind of expected, to be honest. We aren't given 100% -- that's why faith comes in. And it's okay to doubt at times because it makes sense. But that's faith too -- having those doubts, living with them sometimes, but still going forward in pursuit of the goal/destiny/dream that was put on your heart.

    Thanks for sharing this! <3 :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. P.S. I quoted that line because I agreed with it, by the way! :)

      Delete
    2. "faith of the mustard-seed" . . . I appreciate your reminder of this, sweet Erika.

      Delete
  2. Dear Amy
    I know those feeling, dear one! In my case I have found that only as I admitted to our Lord that I didn't have that right kind of faith (the kind that receives everything from His hand), was Iableto ask for real faith. But then, He did day that with us nothing is possible, but with Him, everything!
    Blessings from Jennifer's.
    Mia

    ReplyDelete
  3. "His grace is big enough to give me permission to be me right now with all my doubt." I'm still absorbing what you shared and many times I have a hard time sharing the impact of others words in a simple comment. But I'm grateful for coming here today. Your words were needed. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's true . . . He allows even this. And He'll use it . . . to draw you ever closer to His heart and strengthen your muscles to trust. Give yourself permission . . . He does.

      Rich blessings, Beth.

      Delete
  4. Thank goodness His grace is big enough. I need it too for the times I try to go it my own way, taking comfort some here other than in Him.
    Keep taking steps!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh boy, oh boy... I get chills just thinking about where this is all leading for you, this here: "I've been contemplating crazy God-sized dreams that have followed me around ..."

    How can I pray for you? How can I cheer you on? I love you, friend.

    ReplyDelete