The day my natural self was vanquished is a vivid memory seared into the cinema of my mind and firmly attached to the walls of my now-free heart.
Instead of trying to manage and control the “bad things in life” that produce pain and angst, God helped me see those events as the gateway to glorify him. The door to discerning his will. The ticket to trigger what it means to walk in trust with Christ.
What a blessing.
I learned to depend on God alone—ditching reliance on my smarts, resume creds and recreational diversions–and experience his incredible grace and protection when the proverbial mud flew into my life and smacked up against the wall.
Yes, it’s tough to turn our problems over to God and take second position when we are under siege. Of course it’s easier to trust him when things are going well. But even when we encounter obstacles and challenges, God gives us a way around them by imploring us to claim his promises to be there every step of the way.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
SNAP-OF-THE-FINGERS FAITH
We want to snap our fingers and find peace in the middle of life’s turmoil, but that ignores the reality that spiritual maturity is an ongoing process. To turn off the urge to play boss and look for “snap-of-a-fingers” spiritual strength, I continually ask God to lead me to his powerful presence and divine direction. My goal is to identify the early warning signs that announce the arrival of my natural self.
