Someone once told me that freshwater fish, like goldfish, grow to fit the size of their environment. Keep them in a fishbowl, they remain a small fish. Put them in a pond, they’ll grow too large to comfortably return to a fish bowl. I’m not 100% of how true this is, but tonight as I sat on the beach listening to the surf and stared at the stars, for some reason I was thinking of how we are like freshwater fish (maybe because I spent the afternoon looking at fish and wildlife in Myakka State Park); kept in our comfort zone, our familiar environments, we’ll only grow so much as individuals. But, if we push ourselves outside of our fishbowls and ponds, out of the familiar and comfortable, the possibilities of our potential growth are endless...
Over the past 8 years I’ve sat on beaches, listened to surf, and stargazed in more than 6 countries, across 3 different continents. It’s been almost eight years since I was last in Florida, looking up at the night skies contemplating life. And, had you asked me eight years ago where I imagined life was going to take me over the next few years, I’m sure my answer would have been drastically different from the path God’s led me down. Before my summer in Florida in 2002, you see, I had never thought of leaving my fishbowl. That summer was the catalyst that led to my move to Ecuador, which ultimately changed my life in ways I never could have predicted. And now, as my trip to Haiti approaches, and I reflect on all the growth that resulted from my being willing to step so completely out of my comfort zone and move to a foreign country (where I didn’t know the language or a single person), I wonder how God will work change in my life through this very different, yet equally uncomfortable and very likely even more challenging, chapter of my life.
I really do believe that the more uncomfortable we are, the more usable we are. I am uncomfortable about going to Haiti – I often find myself asking God what use I will possibly be down there – I’ve always been squeamish with blood, I’ve never been handy with tools and building things... and I’ve always been more on the awkward side when it comes to meeting new people and sharing about my faith. Yet, there continue to be reminders to me that it is when we are weak that God is able to show His strength in our lives.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." We might see our weaknesses as detrimental, but our weaknesses are opportunities for God to show His strength in our lives. "God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27). In our weakness, He is strong. This encourages me (and you too, I hope) not to be discouraged by reproaches, needs, persecutions, and distresses. If our life is uncomfortable, we are useable. If we feel inadequate, He is more than capable. After all, "if you want to walk on water, you have to step out of the boat."The key is that we must never stop trusting HIM, and never stop rejoicing. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).
Tonight, as I sit here writing, breathing the salty sea air, and listening to the pounding surf of the Florida keys, I am very grateful for where God has taken me, all that He has brought me through, and for the fact that when I have been weak He has always proven faithful to His promise and given me strength. I am confident He will prepare me for however He wants to use me in Haiti. And, I’m thankful for this time of rest with my family before a new chapter of life. Most importantly, as Easter approaches, I am thankful beyond words for the greatest gift of all - that He so loved the world that He gave His son for all of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment