At the beginning of this year, Chuck heard from the Lord these words, Free and Clear. This message created a domino effect in our lives with many changes to follow. New job. Changes in relationships. New goals. Changes in the rhythm of our lives.
Add to this domino movement, the passing of my Dad, and I suddenly found myself in a whole other space. There is an awakening in me, a mental and emotional capacity to breathe and dream again.
Imagine my surprise then, when the Lord invited us to do some hard pruning. Here I am thinking , “I will finally enjoy the freedom and flexibility I have been craving.” But instead, He asked us to go one step further into free and clear.
What was I willing to give up now, so I could go into the next season undistracted and unfettered?
READ THAT AGAIN.
It’s one thing to have callings, plans, goals, and purposes. It’s another thing to surrender whatever diminishes those from becoming a reality. And let’s be clear. I had oh-so-many conversations with the Lord.
“Ohhhh wait. You want me to prune something I love? Something I prayed for and you gave me?”
(Anyone else getting hints of Abraham here? smile)
“This is a hard prune. So you will be even more fruitful.”
But, but, Lord…
The questions went something like this: How will I ever get this again? How will this affect my people? How will you meet my deepest desires if I give this up now? How do I know the New thing is WORTH the present thing?
BOOM. THERE WAS THE CORE QUESTION.
Our God is so loving that He helps us follow Him into the unknown.
His answers:
Does the rain have a father?
Yes He said that. It’s from the book of Job
If you haven’t read it lately, go back and read the last chapters of Job where God reminds us all of who He is and what He is capable of.
Hold on, don’t grow tired. Don’t give up. He’s better.
A line from song Wouldn’t it be like you? He’s better.
Being with Him, being loved by Him, and following Him is better than any present from His hand.
Two different double rainbows. This is your inheritance.
Double portion of his promises from Isaiah 61:7
This whole last season has been about my inheritance from the Lord. This is the next step of trust.
It probably seems obvious to you by now. But Trusting God is more than a t-shirt. It is the very life we breathe and it comes from His heart of goodness and kindness in every season. Every. Season.
So here’s to hard pruning. And to letting go — so that we might see more of Him.
After all, He’s better.