Today started out a bit confusing for me. As I continued to unpack my bags, I began feeling somewhat overwhelmed with all that I was carryingnin my bag. As I prepared myself for my day, I opened the safari browser on my phone, as I usually do, in search of a motivational lecture or message to provide me with some sort of relief or answer to the confusion that clouded my thoughts. I came across another insightful message from Sarah Jakes, but this wasn't exactly what I was expecting... Within the context of her message she stated something that resonated with me..."There's a point in life where God may call us to be alone and if we aren't careful we will see our isolation as punishment and if we move too soon we will never see all that God has for us"...
As I pondered upon these words, I found refuge. I realized that often times, if not almost always, our timing really is hardly ever the right time. For me, I began to feel this season of "isolation" and self-refection had basically ran its course and that I was ready to come out as this new and improved me. Ha!! I'm sure that was life's reaction to this thought because growth is a continuum and should be something that is never ending in our lives. I had minimized my season to what I thought would be a few months and then BOOM I'd be changed forever. How silly was it for me to think that 5 months of time alone to reflect would fix nearly 34 years of issues, trauma, hurt and pain. Then I realized, yet another item in my bag, I lack the patience to endure. Have you ever quit something too soon or even been sick and went to the doctors and was prescribed medication that you didn't take in it's entirety? Well I'm sure you know what happens next, a few weeks or months later you found yourself battling the same illness. I had to ask myself, did you ask God to show you a new way to get over things or are you really committed to allowing him to take you THROUGH it? I find that this tends to be the issue with many of us. In such a microwaved generation, we always want the quick fix when we all know there's nothing more appetizing than a home cooked meal. You know the meal your grandmother wakes up at the crack of dawn to prepare for and slaves in the kitchen for hours... That kind of meal can't happen by use of the microwave.
I began to recognize that my time in this season of seclusion is not in my control for if in fact it was I wouldn't be here in the first place. I'm learning the importance of time and having the patience to allow God to do his best work...You know, you can't rush the master when he's working on a masterpiece😊. If I'm fully committed to making the necessary changes in my life I first have to be willing to see them for that they are and then commit daily to a mind and ACTION shift. I asked myself do you really believe or do you just say you do because you're hoping that if you say it it'll actually start to manifest itself? But we all know that faith without works is a dead thing so in addition to me believing I also have to be intentional in my actions and in my thoughts.
The danger of rushing the process is that if you eat food that isn't properly cooked, you risk getting seriously ill... Are you walking around ill because you weren't fully cooked? Hop back into the stove my friend, you're not ready yet.... In a recent conversation with my friend (I hope she doesn't kill me for sharing) she was sharing with me how she feels alone and often feels a way when everyone around her seems to be happy in relationships. I then asked her, do you feel that a relationship will make you any less lonely? I mean sure the physical presence of someone may provide some relief but will it be the cure to your loneliness? Is it fair to make someone else responsible to fulfill this need? This only reminded me of the importance of isolation. I believe that when we are faced with times of solitude that we should embrace them rather than resent and run from them. We cannot hear what we need to hear sometimes when we are in the presence of others. Sometimes the work that needs to be done within us is so great that sometimes this season may be longer than what we desire but it's all for your good in the end. Many, if not all, of the revelations I've gotten about myself have been in the alone and quiet times in my life. Instead of seeing isolation as reprimand you have to see it as a reward because something far greater than what you can even imagine is at hand....
-Nique
No comments:
Post a Comment