“Embracing Life in the Land of the Living”
10/31/24
We live in a time in history where I believe people are struggling to “Embrace life in the land of the living.” They are longing to see the greatness of God.
What do I mean? I mean we as a culture, especially Christian culture, have become so caught up in all the drama and chaos that is going on around us that we have lost sight of pursuing “Joyful Persistence”. “Joyful Persistence” only comes from the one who created us and everything in this world.
This counsel from John Piper has been immeasurably helpful to me: “Occasionally, weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.”
Vaneetha Rendall Risner puts it like this. “We are called to embrace the life we have. Embrace it as we would a beloved friend. Wholeheartedly. With joyful acceptance, not grudging obedience. Embracing means gladly receiving and even welcoming whatever we are given, even when it wasn’t in our plans. It means being fully present, living in the now, finding joy in the moment, and not longing for what’s past. “Trust God that he is working for our good. Trust him that he knows what is best.””
So today, if you are feeling weary and disappointed about your life, allow yourself to grieve. To weep deeply. To mourn the loss of what you hoped for. But then after you have lamented, wash your face, trust God, and embrace the life He’s given you.
Take some time to consider what God told His people when He said, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” –Isaiah 43:18–19.
The Lord is indeed doing a new thing in my life and yours as well. He is making a way in the wilderness and forging streams in the wasteland. Lean into it, and embrace it because God is doing something beautiful.
Psalm 27:13 says, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!”
The land of living there. That’s the life you are living right now. Embrace that life and look upon the goodness of the Lord.
I once heard John Piper put it this way, “If God has done the hardest, most painful thing imaginable in order to make us happy, then beyond a doubt, he will do the rest — whatever it takes — to make us consummately happy in him forever.”
I love you guys. Keep pursuing “Joyful Persistence” and meditate on Psalm 16:11 “God makes known to us the path of life; in His presence there is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
