2 Timothy 1:7
"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."
Philippians 1:6
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His great power."
Ephesians 6:10
When I was little...Ben, Emily, Arthur, Alicia and I would all play hide n' seek in the trees behind our house. I can still remember hiding inside the large pine tree in the back right corner and hearing the seekers walk past. I would hold my breath and try not to do anything that would reveal my presence and get me caught.
Safety...was knowing that they'd gone to another location and never even knew I was there.
When I have been afraid in life, I have played this same game in my head. "Where can I hide until this is over? Where can I go so that no one will know that I'm not brave?"...Sometimes...I'm mad about times that I have lived like a "wallflower" and other times...from fear...it's been my conscious own choosing...Why is it that I sometimes choose to be this way?
Maybe...I've been noticed then rejected?..so I decide that fading into the background would spare further pain...maybe I have felt present but unoticed...seen but unknown. My Abba sees me...I am not a careless glance to Him and He is enthralled by my beauty..really...and truly.
The Betsy of a few years ago carried this childish game of hide n' seek into adult life. The old me stood alone in the shadows. Giving up, going away, stuffing the pain of betrayal and abuse...Now I can stand inside the arms of God, looking out at the great big life ahead and feeling safe and secure. I have become brave in His arms...sure of His love...convinced of His faithfulness. I am a woman who used to struggle with intense fear, insecurity, and doubt...and now I can stand in righteous confidence...all because I learned to dance with El Roi...the God who sees me....The God who has seen and BEEN THERE for every step and moment of my past, is in my present, and alone knows my future.
Just in case it's been awhile since you have danced...let me remind you of how it goes...
Since the day we were born...God has been passionately in love with us..inviting us to dance the dance of our life in His arms...God doesn't call us FROM nothing INTO nothing. His invitation calls us into life...Enter into His promises and DANCE. Christ has come so that we may have LIFE and have it ABUNDANTLY.
Respond to God's invitation with your LIFE (Isaiah 55:6)...Run into the arms of God and let His love embrace you...Let His love hold you close.
A few years ago...God stepped into the deep shadows of my broken life and said to me "May I have this dance?"...it took me weeks...and every bit of courage I had...to take the hand of my distant love and say "I'd love to..."
As soon as the words left my heart God took me into His loving arms...the place I had been longing to be..and wrapped me with His safe and secure love. A distance sound became a symphony of music that stirred my soul..and before I know what was happening I, who thought I never could, began to dance. As time went on fear took over..because I realized I didn't know any of the steps...immediately I realized that it was ok because He was leading...I just needed to follow.
Of course I wondered if anyone was watching...and many were because a woman held by God is captivating..this dance makes her feel beautiful. The dance of my life with God IS beautiful...everything I had always dreamed it would be. I am safe. He is strong. I have been noticed. I have been chosen. I have been loved. I finally look out from the arms of God and realized how a broken woman becomes brave.
More than anything...I hope YOU dance...
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