Finding Faith in the Mess
You know what your dream is, now what? How do you activate that dream? In this episode, Sarah and I talk about how to live in an active state and how to sustain it. We talk about how the middle is the sweet spot but …
Do you ever get in your own way? I do. Doubts. Fears. Insecurities. Listening to the wrong voices. Listening to my own voice. I get in my way and it is time I step aside.
Why do you believe?
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself that question? If you follow a belief system, why do you believe?
…because that is the way you were brought up?
…because your family believes that way?
…because the culture believes?
…because someone told you about some peace and freedom and you wanted in?
Whatever the reason, we all believe because of something.
I’m wondering how much of our faith, our Christianity, is based on our American culture and heritage and not the actual Bible. I’ve been hit hard with this question lately. How much am I believing based on culture and tradition vs. Biblical truths?
Once I started digging and prying away my misguided beliefs, I realized my faith is so much sweeter than the American Dream. My faith became my own. My relationship with Jesus, secure. I was at peace with having questions because I found answers when I started researching on my own. And when the answers didn’t come, I found peace because I had found God for myself not because of anything or anyone else.
Some of us are scared to peel away the layers of tradition. That’s the way it’s always been, so that’s how it should be.
Some of us are scared to question because maybe that means we don’t believe hard enough.
Some of us believe what we’re told because, well, it’s easier and safer in that space.
This is your permission to find your faith. To find Jesus. To find your belief and relationship with Him outside of the American Christian norm.
You may be an American.
You may even be a Christian.
The two, however, are not one in the same.
Don’t be afraid to search.
Don’t be afraid to question.
Don’t be afraid to wonder.
Find a faith that is real and deep and raw.
It’s worth it.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Do you have a dream? If time. money, and circumstances weren’t an issue, what is the one thing you would do? What is hidden in your heart that you want to do but are too scared to speak out loud?
My boys are about to all bump up a year. We are heading into birthday season. But, right now they are six, seven, and ten. They have gone to church since they were in my belly. They know who Jesus is and what he did for us. My biggest concern, I think I can speak for both my husband and I on this, is that our children’s faith will be because of mom and dad and not their own. I think I fear this more than I fear them walking away from God all together. I want Jesus to be real to them. I want them to feel him in their guts. I knew this movie would be a stepping stone to get them there.
Let me start by saying that I was somewhat terrified that I may scar my children for life by showing them such a graphic film. That, or they will have nightmares for forever. I was apprehensive and held my breath during certain scenes. But, let me just tell you, if you want Good Friday to be real to you, watch this film through the eyes of your children.
I had one kiddo fall asleep almost instantly. I need to give this kid some grace though. We were all up extremely late due to a sleepover last night and the boys woke up this morning before the rooster crows. I am surprised any of us lasted past 6pm tonight.
Another child, my thinker, watched and was not horrified. Instead, he accepted what Jesus did almost in a way of completely understanding the fact that this absolutely had to happen to dissolve us all of our sins. Like, he completely got it on an academic and theological level (totally his dad). I do think his seeing Jesus’ body tattered and torn will be forever etched in his memory, just in a different way than maybe I see it. And you know what? That is the most incredible thing to me because its HIS.
My last boy lost it. And when I say lost it, I mean he was sobbing uncontrollably at parts. Full body convulsions with guttural sobs (this is his mama in him). Watching Jesus being beaten and hung on the cross absolutely wrecked this kid. My heart was ripped right out of my chest. Watching him come to the realization of the gravity of what his Savior did for him because he loved him that much was the most gut-wrenching yet overwhelmingly amazing moment. Seriously. Besides my own salvation, marrying my husband, and birthing my children, this moment is one of the most sacred moments of my life.
I didn’t know what I’d get showing my boys this movie but I am glad I did. Good Friday never looked so sacred before in my life. I have fasted on Good Friday, gone to church, spent time in the Bible and in prayer but nothing has compared to watching my children see their Savior do what he did for them, for me, for you.
I wonder if this is what Jesus feels when we finally wrap our heads around the magnitude of what he did for us; what we can wrap our little human minds around anyway. I honestly believe our children teach us more about faith than most things. Tonight was no different. I go to bed feeling completely wrecked but so very whole all at the same time.
Oh, how I pray that my boys’ faith doesn’t stop in this moment. Rather, I pray it’s a catalyst for a deep and wide faith relationship with their precious Savior who loved them so much that he was ravaged for them. I pray that they may find an exorbitant amount of hope knowing they weren’t meant to live in Friday: that they may relish in knowing Sunday’s coming.
I pray this for you, too. That if you don’t know a Savior that loves you so much he would give his life for you, that you may find him. I pray for those searching to find the One who seeks and saves the lost. I pray that Jesus may be so very real to all of us and that Easter is every day not just once a year.
Sunday’s Coming.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
I want to take a bull horn into every congregation and tell everyone that it is okay to stop being silent. It’s okay to step into difficult conversations. It’s okay to dig deeper into what you believe. It’s okay to listen. It’s okay to love. Loving others isn’t scary. It doesn’t say that you affirm every single thing they do. It says you care. It shows you value their humanity. That’s Jesus.
Stop believing the lie that you need to have a platform to add value to this world. Stop believing the lie that you have to have the big traumatic story that led you to Jesus for your faith to matter. It all matters. All of it comes together in one chaotic mess to make the most beautiful story. A story of redemption and grace that is far too valuable to waste.
I’ll find you
I’ll find you
Just hold on, and I’ll find you
Be patient with me, Jesus.
I will find you.
Life is a journey towards him. Sometimes I get lost. But, I am always on a mission to find him. Even when I turn away. I will find him.
Do you ever feel that way? Like you need a moment to get lost, to waver from the path, in order to find your way back to him?
I heard the song, I’ll Find You, by Lecrae last week. I recognized it but never really listened closely to the words. When I researched the meaning behind the song, I found that it was a letter of sorts to his friends; those that were hurting. He wanted them to know that they were not alone.
When I heard the song, I heard a different message. It was a prayer from me to Jesus. A reminder to myself and to him that no matter how far I veer from the road to him, I will always return.
Sometimes we need to get lost in order to find Jesus.
We get a little judgy when we see people getting off-track. Our intentions are usually good: we don’t want them to feel the hurt and pain we know they will experience if they continue in that direction. But, what if they need to get a little lost in order to find him?
So, this is my prayer.
I will find You, Jesus.
When I battle, I will find you.
When I am bitter, I will find you.
When fear creeps in, I will find you.
When I feel hopeless, I will find you.
When death is knocking on the door, I will find you.
When I am lost, I will find you.
Just hold on to me a little longer.
I will find you.
I’ll Find You, by Lecrae Listen Here
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Are you searching for something in your life fully convinced that it has to be BIG? Do you feel like you aren’t valuable because you aren’t on a stage? Your life is meaningless because you don’t have a huge impact?
