Carefree How Exactly?
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Do I live carefree in that I don’t care about anything except to talk to God and flow with life?
That can’t be right…
What about I live carefree in that I pursue any goal I want because I know God’s got me, and when life says “No,” I say, “Says who?” and keep pushing forward.
Of course, we have to caveat with the caveats. “Pursue any goal I want” will be tempered by following God. God will let me know when a goal I want is out of the question. Or rather, my Holy Spirit and intuition will. And should I not listen to that, God will enact other means.
I know this because I’ve asked Him for this and believe for this. I’ve said to Him many times to get in my way if I’m going the wrong way, and He has.
I won’t say it hasn’t frustrated me. But better to be frustrated now and saved later pain.
But back to the exploration.
I want to really get down to what it means to “live carefree before God” as the Message translation puts it.
I am considering it with the popular rhetoric “work hard, then work harder” to get anywhere in life. “Feel the frustration, feel the stress of pursuing your goals” some have said.
I don’t think any of that is necessarily wrong. But what kind of frustration? What kind of stress? It can’t be all good!
Feeling lost and confused is not a gift from God. It’s a product of my own thought processes. God promises his peace for those whose minds are stayed on Him. If I’m not at peace, I’m outside of this state. A state, I am convinced, is possible to remain in eternally.
Of course, I am human. I can’t actually on my own achieve that. But, it is a goal. It has to be a goal. Or else, I would gray early.
But can I work hard, feel useful frustration, experience healthy stress and in all of it still have that pervading God-given peace, a knowing that I am with the one who can keep me on track? Surely!
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Is 26:3)
I have a feeling in my chest. Not a tightness… a hopeful energy. A hope that the following is possible:
To work, make goals, pursue dreams, write plans, face obstacles, go after life with a heart of wonder and excitement...
Seeking the good in everything. Literally.
Finding the fun in every challenge.
The meaning in every tedium.
The excitement in every gift.
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
Why?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:12-13)
I think I will make this 2024’s mantra focus. I want to embed this in my consciousness. I want to make it my modus operandi.
One thought at a time.
~Niquey
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