Finding Joy in the Regular

I'm always wanting to do something big. I want to feel as if I'm always making a difference. But sometimes we're just stuck in the regular in's and out's of life. Right now, my life is pretty regular. I have a great job and love what I'm doing. Don't get me wrong, my job is different on a daily basis and always interesting. However, I'm in a pattern right now. I go to work, go home, sleep, and go back to work. It doesn't necessarily feel like I'm doing anything earth-shattering, and even though I always feel that is as life should be, God doesn't want every moment to be news-breaking or life-changing. Sometimes we just have to find joy in the regular.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." It doesn't say rejoice in the good times. It doesn't say find joy in the bad times. It says rejoice always. And this includes the regular times in life--when nothing is necessarily bad, but it isn't always the most exciting time in life.

For me, it is difficult to just sit and be content. I am always pushing to do more, experience more, and be more. I strive to learn new things, meet more people, and be a better person. Often, I think this needs to come in big ways like starting a new experience or going to a new place. However, I cannot do that always. I have probably said this before, but I'll say it again: We can't always have life-changing moments, otherwise they wouldn't be life-changing.

I can still do big things in the regular days. Doing my job to the best of my ability is still important. Being friendly and showing God's love to people that I see every day is still important. I tend to bypass and overlook these "small" things, but they still make a difference in life. God calls us to rejoice always, including in just the regular.

Identity in Christ

Sometimes I feel inadequate. Like I'm not good enough. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has thought about this. We can have others tell us that this isn't true; however, the only way to feel adequate is to truly find our identity in Christ and in nowhere else. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

When we commit our lives to Christ, we put our identity in Him. In His power. In His wisdom. In His love. If you put your identity in your activities, your intelligence, or your achievements, you're probably right: you will never be good enough. Our world's standards are impossible to meet. But when we put our identity in God, we will always be good enough.

I often reflect back on a verse I stumbled upon 4 years ago. "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'" Sometimes we question God and why He made us the way we are. However, Romans 9:20 puts us back in our place. Who are we to question our Maker? He is almighty, He is all-knowing, and He is love.

He created us each with a purpose. And because He is omniscient, we shouldn't have any reason to question Him in this. Having your identity in Christ means you trust Him with your life and eternity. Your identity is actually one of the core parts to your Christianity. I always thought that my identity could be something I struggled with, but it's more. This is a crucial area of faith. Because when I doubt my identity, I'm not doubting myself. I'm doubting God. I'm not trusting fully in Him.

Finding your identity in Christ helps you to pursue God in all you do, rather than pursuing desire of your own sinful flesh. My life and accomplishments will always fail me. They will never fulfill me. But God can and will always fulfill me.

Who I am in Christ...

The Love of God

Have you ever thought of how much God loves you? Just imagine how much you love someone close to you--it may be a spouse, child, parent, or sibling. But God, He can love us more in one moment than they can ever love us in a lifetime. His capacity for love is much larger than ours. Romans 8:37-39 says,

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Did you catch that? Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Sometimes, our love for others fail. Sometimes, others' love for us fail. But His, it never fails.

When I was in Guatemala, someone made this concept real and evident to me. He quoted lyrics from an old hymn (which I had never heard) called "The Love of God."

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

These words are so powerful. The last verse gives you a picture of the vastness of God's love for us. We don't have to earn His love--He just loves us. In fact, 1 John 4:8 even says that God is love. So when you feel unloved, rest in the fact that God's love is truly all you need.

He Will Provide

As I plan my future, it doesn't always look the brightest. With the rising prices of college and law school, I somewhat expect to be in mountains of debt. It hard to admit it, but it's difficult to trust God with this.

We're all used to hearing the typical, "God will provide." It becomes old to us, and sometimes it becomes hard to believe. And as tough as it is for me to even convince myself of it, it still rings true. Luke 12:24-25 says,

"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

God cares for us and He will always provide. He goes even further to question why we have worries and anxieties about His providence. Even when it may be hard to trust Him, it is always best to. Worrying gets us nowhere.

However, Matthew 6:33 helps us set our priorities straight. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." We shouldn't focus on the money. Instead, we should continue to seek Him and His righteousness. It's His job to provide.

I always worry. It's easy to worry. But that isn't what I'm called to do. I'm called to trust. A lot of times, I can't see what God is doing in my life. Sometimes when He doesn't provide ahead of time, I assume He won't provide. However, God doesn't always provide in our time. He provides in His time.

Trusting in His provision isn't easy, especially with big amounts of money. But what is money anyways? Everything on this Earth is His--including our wealth. Our worldly status and wealth isn't what will matter one day. It's seeking Him. It's always seeking Him. Trust that He will provide--because He will.