I had a conversation with God the other day about the lack of major trial in my life these days. Which is good. I’m thankful. But I was telling Him that I can see a difference in me when my life hangs by a thread vs. when my days are marked with somewhat ease.
Oh don’t get me wrong. The dailiness can be “whack” at times. I mean, I’m a (I-said-I’d-never-be-a) homeschooling mom to three young kids. So we definitely have our moments. But on the whole, I’m not facing the major trials of recent years — i.e. my mom’s walk through cancer, the rebuilding of our marriage, the struggle to climb out of a sin pit, etc.
And I’m thankful. Deeply thankful. But there’s a danger that comes when we don’t have major trial. When we’re not grasping to God for the next breath. And then the next. And then the next. A danger that we need to purposefully stay on-guard against.
During times of ease, we will be tempted to coast on yesterday’s faith.
When life is at its peak of messy, we desperately cling to God. When we can hardly stand, it seems we can touch Him with our physical hands and feel His physical breath. But when the suffering lets up and the sun begins to shine again, we’re tempted to not live as purposefully in His presence. Because it seems we can do at least parts of life somewhat on our own.
And that can be a dangerous mindset. Because coasting through our day on yesterday’s faith will lead us to desolate spiritual ground.
Maybe that’s why Paul and James refer to suffering a gift to be received with joy.
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children…”
Deuteronomy 4:9
That’s why we need — desperately need — to choose Him this day. To worship this day. To meditate upon His word this day. To continually talk with Him this day. To obey the things He has prompted this day. To love with everything in us this day. Otherwise, we’ll look up and realize we’ve drifted.
We cannot coast through a single day. We can’t. Not if we want to maintain an intimate relationship with our beautiful Lord. Not if we want to be prepared for the next storm that will most likely come.
This is the day He has made — whether it’s full of trial or in a moment of ease. Either way, let us purposefully stir our faith and rejoice in Him in the midst of it.
Fill me, Lord…
How do you keep from “coasting”?
God used these words to speak to me today, Lara. I’ve been coasting for about a week and I pray this motivates me to seek Jesus as my way out of this rut 🙂
Thank you for sharing with me, Katie. It means so much to hear from my readers. I pray that God would graciously, tenderly, intimately lead you into sweet times of worship. Blessings, sister.
Love this Lara. Some days I do feel like I am just numb or simply coasting. Praying God always hold our hearts and our attention!
Ahh, I love that, “hold our hearts and attention”. He’s so good to always bring us back when we coast or drift. So faithful. Love to you, Christie.
Thank you for this post! At the moment I’m struggling for breath and it’s good for me to be thankful for God’s presence and love – the trials are strangely healing even though it’s crazy hard.
I’ve been coasting for a while…it flat out stinks.