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As
you listen to the young, you will hear a lot of dreams. The hope of
marrying and having a family. The hope of a career that is meaningful
and enjoyable. The hope of being known for their contributions to
others. The list goes on... all good; and sometimes a little
starry-eyed.
I
remember my own imaginations as a young person and how vividly I was
writing my story in my mind. In my 20’s I lived some of my dreams and
some were dashed in tragedy. It was a challenge to reconcile my hopes
with reality and to hold both.
My first invitation was to surrender my story and to let God talk with me about his story.
Albeit
hard at times, it turned out to be a very promising season as I let go
and let God be the author. He showed me his love that was never going to
fail me and comforted me in his faithful presence. He opened to me new
spaces and goodness from unexpected places. I lived here for several
years; and then something began to shift.
The Lord began to talk to me about living our story.
He
took me to Psalm 139, and he showed me his presence creating and
designing me for such a life as this. He told me that I had everything I
needed to be all that I was called to be and more. It’s not that my story was wrong, it was just too small.
My new invitation is to live our story.
As
this unfolds, I’ve found a sweet companionship with the Lord. The
playfulness of an intimate friend. The tender care of a Good Shepherd.
The challenge of trusting an untame God.
I’m
also experiencing a new richness in my relationships in the Body of
Christ. I don’t have to be it all, know it all, do it all. I’ve been
blessed to live out life in a community, where together we are all God’s
story, past, present and future.
I
am living the same story of Moses, Ruth, and Esther. I am living a
story with fellow believers who all contribute to the manifestation of
his glory and honor through our lives together. I am living a story that
will continue to be written by my daughter and the generations yet to
come.
When
God invites us to surrender, it’s not because our dreams are wrong or
because he is some giant cosmic killjoy. It’s because there’s something
so much more he wants to give us.
May you find the joy of living our story.
