Skipping Ahead

As I drive home from work, or wherever I'm headed, I often listen to my mp3 player to enjoy some of my favorite songs. Somehow I add new songs on every week, and yet, I still find myself tired of listening to the same old songs. I constantly skip through every song until I try to find one I want to listen to.

While driving home today I found myself skipping every song until I could find one in particular to listen to. I got to the point that I was determined to find this song, until I realized something. I was so determined to find that one song, I was skipping over so many others in the process. I've often found this in stages of life as well. I'm so determined to skip over parts of my life, in search for things I want or desire, that I'm missing out on big pieces and opportunities right where I am.

I desire for the day that I can be successful at something. I get impatient waiting for the day I can marry the man God has chosen for me. I long for a lasting friendship. I desire opportunities that I can be a vital inspiration in someone else's life.

Just as I've been skipping songs, passing them by in search of something better, I've been doing that with God too. How many times I think my ways are better than God's. I'm in search of my wants and desires, and God's plans get skipped over. I try to rush through seasons of my life, searching for something of more value. A lasting impact. I want more than the provincial circumstances God has placed in my lap.

Lately life has been filled with work, work and more work. While I enjoy what I'm doing, it often gets tiring when I feel like I have no deep connections with anyone. I desire to have a deep relationship with someone. I would like to help encourage and influence with my life, but it feels like God keeps taking things and people from me. I feel like all that I'm left with is empty hands and a broken heart. I desired more for my life than where I'm at right now, but I know God has a plan. I may be a mess, feel like a failure and make mistakes, but I know God is using all of the pieces of my brokenness for something great.

Even though I feel like everything has fallen apart, God is using these broken pieces for something greater, that I may not understand, from my shattered life. Even though I wish I could skip through this season of wondering and waiting, I know that God is teaching me, more than ever, to rely on Him. When things are taken from me, I have to remember that God is bringing me closer to His side. He wants me to grow closer to Him and not rely on the earthly possessions I often get twisted up in. He can use this pain and hurt for something far greater than I ever could imagine.

If you're experiencing hardship in this season of your life, don't try to skip through and search for something better. God has it right in your lap. He's doing something amazing with your life. Not just in your past. Not in the future, but right now. Let Him lead the way and follow after Him. It takes great faith to trust God when things are unclear, not just when everything is sunny and bright. Let your faith remain strong even through the most painful trials you may be facing. Remember, if you are hurting, God is seeking you to draw closer to Him in ways you never could have if things were perfect and put together. Hardships are God's way of telling us He desires to deepen our relationship with Him.

Isaiah 43:2

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end. 

James 5:11

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.