Peering Through the Thorns

I am only days into the launching of my website and Instagram accounts and the pressure is already starting to stack. We all know with any endevour you have to put in the time and effort to get a return. Yet as I begin this journey there is this ongoing tug of war between wanting to be successful and wanting to be fully attentive and engaged within my family. Than I pause taking a moment to step back and think who am I doing this for? As I pounder this question my heart knows the primary goal in doing this is to glorify God by telling others my story and connecting with others on this journey. Yet it can easily get muddled when your striving to keep up with stats and relevancy and the primary goal can begin to slip before you even have a chance to realize it.

I am sure you have heard Bret Michaels song Every Rose has it’s thorn and although he was singing about a love interest it’s interesting that when you think about it, most things one cares about has it’s thorns in some way or another. There is beauty in the challenges of life! As I was thinking about the struggle to balance what God originally called me to do with this website in the first place and my internal battle of not wanting to sacrifice family time with work I came across psalm 18:30-31, “As for God His way is perect; the Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? This passage brings so much peace and wise council. If I am truly doing this for God than I can rest in the fact knowing that He has and will continue to go before me directing my path! I can lay down my fears of failure or not being enough and rest in His truth! The amazing thing is when we fully trust and surrender to His will then He takes control and His outcome far advances our own!

I don’t need to be on my phone 10 hours a day editing, writing and communicating. I need to have balance in my work as much as I do in my other aspects of life and if this work is for the Lord than I need to trust He will have it reach who it’s intended for. In all things I need to surrender to His will because when I am running off of my own will those thorns really poke hard!

Jesus Calling, a daily devotional says it perfectly, “Do not wear yourself out wondering if you can cope with the pressures. Keep looking to me and communicating with me as we walk in this day together. Take time to rest, by the wayside, for I am not in a hurry. A leisurely pace accomplished more than a hurried striving. When you rush you forget who you are and whose you are. Remember you are royalty in my kingdom.” This perspective is mind blowing to a control freak like myself. Yet it’s truth and simplicity is cleanses my soul like a breath of fresh air. I must just take a step back and realize this day is more productive when I adjust to a calmer pace by taking each thing as it comes, than my balance in managing life will be renewed. I don’t need to fret about this or that I just need to keep my eyes focused on the Lord and the rest will work itself out allowing the beauty to shine!

hugs,

Julie Black