You're Still Walking

For weeks I have been struggling to find a topic to write a blog post on and I feel like I always try to have a witty title with a really powerful message, but that's not what I want to do with this one. This is a monotone story of daily surrender and love from the father. Every day I mess up; no doubt about it, I am a sinner. That being said, I'm reminded of the verse where Jesus called His followers to pick up their crosses and follow Him. He didn't ask for you to be perfect or do anything extra, He simply wants you to show Him that you know you're His, this world does not define you, His word "child" speaks louder than anything else this world can shout at you. I know firsthand that times are harder than they have ever been and that people will continue to be rude and upset you, but that should not stop you from showing them love even when they don't give any in return. That's a hard thing to remember especially when someone is not being kind, however, Jesus had some extremely unkind people kill Him and He still said "forgive them Lord, for they know not what they've done".

Jesus hung on the cross. He took what we were supposed to bear and died in our place. He hung on the tree so we could walk for Him. Walking for Him is hard, but He knew the difficult road long before we ever did. He was spit on and mocked because of His title and we will be called names and looked down upon because of our decision to follow, yet, we love because He first loved us. I was watching a pastor online yesterday and his quote to the congregation was "you pray for good things but God is growing you through the hard times you're going through. You may have prayed for peace and God gave you fear or anxiety, you prayed for wisdom and God gave you a problem to solve, or you prayed for patience and God gave you trying times. He is growing you through these things"!

Friends I know that life is rough, you don't have to tell me twice. God is still good though and He loves that you are broken because it only gives more room for Him to fill you up. Yes it may be tough but live in the brokenness and the hardships, it's where Jesus works the best. You might feel like you're done and that there is nothing left for you, but you're still walking. So pick up that cross and you might drop it every now and then but I promise it's just wood. It can't hurt you anymore, Jesus took that hurt for you. This world is temporary, heaven is forever so live like you have been saved and brought to a new life in Christ.

May the peace and love of God be with you always,

Leah Carpenter