Relevant.com has quickly become one of my favorite Christian news/entertainment outlets. Their stories are yes, relevant, thought-provoking and they don't steer away from the sensitive issues most Christian organizations would rather just not talk about. Sex, Homosexuality, Depression, Abuse, Faith Issues, Complacency, Hypocrisy, etc etc etc. It is there, and it is real and raw.
Hitting home today is a blog entitled "Breaking Out of Our Cages."
Most of us would say we want the kind of life that is filled with passion, novelty, faith, vibrancy, anticipation and depth. Does that describe your life? I wish it described mine. The truth is that these characteristics describe an undomesticated existence, one that requires constant risk and an ability to survive in the wild.
The wild is where God is walking. The front yard is where most of us are staying.
One of the annoying things about living in the wild is that we have no idea what is going to happen next. The word “annoying” doesn’t really describe the feeling … it’s more like exhausting. Sure it’s exciting at first. But after a while it gets really hard trying to plan a life where plans are not part of the plan. The problem is that humanity has a deep need to create some sense of stability in this chaotic universe we have been thrown in to, yet, at the same time, we have an even deeper need to surrender control to the God who threw us here.
We are at war within ourselves between control and surrender, captivity and the wild.
This is me.
I am in the wild right now . . . but its not what i thought it would be. Security for me would be career success. Security would be career movement. Security would be knowing what is next. I don't. So, for me, for yet another day, I feel like I'm in the jungle. I believe God has us to live in the wild as it pertains to trusting in him for direction and guidance. This blog states, "We were born for the jungle. We live to build our own cages."
Cages don't seem enticing, rewarding or satisfying. But I feel like in a cage, i'd at least know where I was. I would know what to plan for. I would know what was expected. I would know what to do. If the wild is where i'm supposed to be, why do I feel so lost? The wild is an adventure yes, but it is also painful and frustrating and heart-wrenching. The wild for me is simply being completely helpless. The wild for me is not understanding "the plan"....not understanding why God won't lead me somewhere...anywhere ... I am wandering in this wild jungle because I believe with my whole heart God's will is what I want. But the wild isn't always the place we romanticize about. It isn't always the rush of adventure or the thrill of the unknown. The wild is a lonely, desolate place.
R.A.K. here; Wow Nicole, sounds right on to me. I have been in and out of that frustrating place of not knowing what God wants or has for me and yet wanting to know so desperately. Then looking back and seeing more clearly [not crystal clear though] how his will unfolded. I THINK IT IS ALL ABOUT TIMING, HIS [GOD'S] TIMING. And it is sometimes a real bummer to me that HIS timing isn't more in sync with mine! But that is life, literally that is our life in Him. It is a little like the military, hurry up and wait, and wait, and wait some more. I think the answer is while waiting for Him [of course keep praying] but just do whatever you find before you that you would like to do, [of course do not stray from God's word, what you know is right and wrong]. Just do what you want keeping a watchful eye on the Lord, waiting on His will, and hold loosely to what you want in case He says stop.
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