I came across a reel the other day that made me giggle. It was a Southern lady with a very distinctive and adorable Southern accent. I will attempt to spell things so that you can “hear” her accent. I’m sure I will fail, but hopefully you will get the point. Be sure to give each word that long drawn-out drawl, read slowly, out loud and pause between words.
She had a phone in her hand pretending to speak to people in heaven. She asked to be connected to the Apostle Paul, her conversation went something like this, “Liissssten, I was gest wonderin’, ahh-ha, you know dat passage you put in Philippians, the one ‘bout thinking on things. Yesss, that the one. Well, you know you said to think on things that was pure and honest and all dat. Now, what I wants to know is, is that multiple choice or is we ‘sposed to do all dat at one time?”
It got me to thinking. Sometimes there are things we are asked to do that can seem overwhelming. Things we want to do but just don’t think we are strong enough to carry it out.
We know that Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. However, we also know that the path to Heaven is difficult, narrow and rocky. How do we put all that together?
Is being a Christian easy or is it hard? It’s not a trick question, the answer is, “Yes, it is both.”
You may be facing things that are so challenging, and you feel so alone. For instance, we are to honor our husbands. What if he is an alcoholic? Or verbally abusive? How do we maintain pure and lovely thoughts about that? Do things like that really happen in the church? YES, they do.
Maybe it isn’t anything that extreme and you are simply struggling to have a good attitude about a personal issue. Simple things set you off. Perhaps your anger flies-up outrageously when the kids spill their milk.
It can be anything that sends you into that nosedive of guilt. Making you think you are not good enough. Making you think you are not worthy. Making you think you simply can’t do this whole “church thing.”
You start to think, “I’ll just worship God in my own way at home. Really, I just don’t feel like being “judged” by “those people.”
First ask yourself, who is sending you that message? It isn’t God. He loves you and you know that. His love is only conditional in that you love Him back. So yes, as in any relationship there are responsibilities that fall into place to make that work and you must do your part. Yet, He will always, “cover you with His wings” and “hold you in the palm of His hand”. He will be with you when you, “walk through that valley.” Even when you are not feeling it. He is there to guide you home.
He made you, He knows how you work. He knows if you struggle. He is ok with struggling, He is not ok with giving up. Finish the race!
You know you are stiving to be the “worthy woman” but sometimes it is so hard when you are just the “weary woman”.
Take some time, you may have to lock the bathroom door and take a 20 minute bubble bath. Relax and really do “Think on these things”. If you’re a mom, think how blessed you are to be a mom. So many women would give anything in the world to have some spilled milk on the floor.
Think about the women of the Bible. You know most of them had extremely difficult lives and yet are praised by God! I long with all my being just to have My Lord and Savior look at me one day and say, “Come home my daughter.”
I know I won’t be the one who challenged the giant or the one who saved the day in battle. But I can be the one who tried with all of my being to Glorify Him, to give Him reason to trust in my love and my earnest desire to please Him.
Bottom line, you may feel unworthy, overwhelmed, unable to attain a high and lofty goal. But you are loved by the creator of the Universe and just that should make you know you indeed are worthy.
Let the words of the Apostle Paul, as he lived in the depths of a filthy dungeon light your path. In this same passage he says, “I can do all things through Jesus Christ.” Meditate on these words and heed his advice:
Philippians 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
