The Journey
I have no verse from Scripture from which to springboard…just some encouragement I believe I received from the Lord today as I was spending time with Him. I was simply talking to Him as authentically and vulnerably as I could…coming to Him as I am, without trying to pretend or hide. (Why, by the way, do we sometimes do that, believing that we can somehow “trick” God that we are feeling or believing something that we really aren’t?)
Anyway, I have a hard time really capturing in words where I find myself as of late…it’s not a “bad” place, per se. It just seems so…repetitive. And sometimes I find myself really wondering, “Lord, am I doing anything of any real, lasting value?” I love adventure, I love living on the edge of faith, I love seeing God do what only He can do. I know, I know…raising children and being “busy at home” is indeed of lasting value, and I certainly don’t mean to suggest that any one calling is more or less significant than another. Remember, I’m just trying to describe where I am, not necessarily make any judgments on it. To say it as simply and plainly as I can, God has placed some dreams in our hearts, and I just don’t see how or when they are ever going to come to pass. And I’m just a bit weary of the waiting and wondering.
As I was talking with Him, I made the remark that I don’t expect nor do I want to necessarily be on the mountain top all the time. Immediately, I pictured in my mind some recent hikes I had taken with my family, up the sides of mountains and back down to the valleys. And I thought of how difficult it was, at times, to get to the top. I remembered the incredible views, but also the reality that I couldn’t stay there – that it was good and necessary to go back to the valley. And I remembered how beautiful it ALL was. I remembered the drives to the different places we had gone – and the beautiful flat places of abundance, where farmers awaited their harvests or the small, quaint communities of people – people just like me.
And I just felt in that deep place – that place that only God can somehow mysteriously reach – that He was showing me in my mind’s eye that ALL places are good. They are all so very different. There is different vegetation in each place; each has different perspectives, different things that can be done. And no one place is to be exalted above another. Every single one is critical to the whole.
And so it is with our lives. We are on journeys, and our journeys are going to take us to mountain tops sometimes – sometimes through valleys. We will have to endure through the long, flat places – sometimes full of fruit, sometimes hot and dry and seemingly barren. But all are good. All are to be embraced. And through all those places, no matter how long we may find ourselves camped out in one or the other, our God is present with us and He is faithful! He is working out His purposes, and we are called to trust in Him and to follow Him, full of faith and expectancy.
So, here I am. I’m doing today pretty much what I do every day. And I’m still waiting on God to show us what is next and when. But, I will wait with assurance and trust – and, by His grace, I will consider it all a joy.
Boy…do I ever get what you’re saying. I can relate. Truthfully, it’s all attacks because Angie and I are getting ready to lead a life group for the first time, and I know that. Not only so, but God has called me to lead worship for a living – of that I’m completely certain, being a worship team leader will certainly have its’ ups and downs, but it’s what I’m called to do – and the fact that I haven’t jumped off the proverbial cliff just yet is making me crazy.
But for now, I’m doing all I can to, “be faithful with what God has put in my hand, to carry out what’s on my heart” – paraphrased from a sermon by Hillsong’s pastor Brian Houston. I have a team that I just love serving with, for a God that I love even more, and I’m looking for more opportunities while also trying not to stretch myself too thin (a prison ministry opportunity may be coming soon).
If you’ve ever seen Office Space, the enemy is basically pushing every button he can to drag me through an ongoing “case of the Mondays”, but I’m fighting as best I can. Crazy Love is a book that has changed my life and opened my eyes (conviction is an understatement – if that book doesn’t convict you, IMO, you must not have a pulse!). The enemy is of course working overtime to try and counter this before we lead a group on that book starting next week. I need to spend more time with the God who loves me more than I can ever imagine, and in His Word, too, specifically in the parts of it that I haven’t read yet. He has so much He wants to show me.
You’re a blessing, Cammie. Thank you for sharing. :)
Chris Naish
Love this Cammie. I think maybe I needed to hear this because I have been feeling really blah lately!
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Jennifer
Hey Chris,
It was so great to hear from you — and to hear what the Lord is up to in your lives! Debbie and Jeff Utz are leading a LIFE group on that book right now! It IS a life-changing book!! I’ll be anxious to hear all that God continues to do in and through you and through those who will be in your group.
Sometimes it’s nice to know that we just simply aren’t alone in our daily battles, no matter how “big” or “small” they may be. When you come to my mind, I will pray that God will continue to show you where He is taking you, when and how…I DO know He is faithful, as do you. And I know that He will give us the grace we need to wait on Him.
God bless, Chris!!!
Just a thought… George Mueller wanted to be a foreign missionary and God had him serve right where he was – for decades. A huge portion of his service was to daily pray for food, shelter and clothing for himself and those in his care. And then to watch and record how God had answered. He simply recorded God’s faithfulness day after day, year after year, decade after decade. The same things. It started with just he and his wife, then a few children who met in their home for Bible teachings, then a small orphanage and ultimately 5 huge buildings, thousands of orphans and staff.
Over the span of decades he stayed in the same place doing the same daily praying, recording and care-taking; all of which were acts of love. When I read his books I get to read highlight after highlight, what I don’t get to read about is how mundane most days may have seemed. then when he had decades of experience of being content with whatever God provided and decades worth of records of God’s faithfulness, then he was sent out “on the road.” But today, over 100 years after his death, it is the records of God’s faithfulness, how God worked in the “mundane” stuff of everyday life that gives glory to God and testifies that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. There are also generations of people who were directly touched by his ministries who also give this same testimony.
“My faith is the same faith which is found in every believer. Try it for yourself and you will see the help of God, if you trust in Him.” – George Mueller
This was a real blessing, because of late I have been in a funk, sort of wrapped up in myself and not feeling like I am really doing anything that serves to advance His kingdom. That surely there is something bigger and better that I could be doing if only I would just be more bold or more courageous, or if only this….if only that. Then I am reminded in moments like this that it is in Him that I live and have my being and it is He that I want serve and if the littlest things, though insignificant as I think they are, are done in love and in His name, then they serve a purpose and He will work for good and for His glory!! So I need to get over myself and be faithful in the “little things”. :)
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