(Sprinkled throughout my post today are glimpses of fall––both in nature and in decoration––both from Nashville, and Colorado where we used to live. Hope you enjoy!)For the past two years, God has really been working within me to cultivate a spirit of surrender, yet I’m still so far from being fully surrendered to Him in any area of life.
I want to be surrendered. I want to want what He wants for me more than I want what I want for myself. And I do…with my head. But so many times, my emotions tell a very different story. So it’s no surprise that this theme of surrender wove a thread through my latest novel that officially releases today. Claire Laurent, the heroine in A Lasting Impression, mirrors some of my personal struggle in her own need to surrender her desires.I love Jeremiah 29:11-13, a much-quoted and familiar promise:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”Sounds great, doesn’t it? God’s plans are for good, not harm. Giving us a future and hope. This is all great stuff! But…
Are you familiar with verse 10 of that same chapter, and verse 14? The two verses that bracket that promise we love to quote? They’re not as frequently quoted, but they should be:Let’s read that passage again, beginning with verse 10 and reading through verse 14:
“This is what the Lord says, “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you, says the Lord. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your land.”Wait a minute! Captivity? He’s promising captivity? AKA: struggle, hardship, things we wouldn’t choose for ourselves? May I please skip that part of the promise? But therein lies the rub…
In order to become more like Christ, to receive the full blessing, we must accept the full promises of God. And that means following His lead, no matter that it leads us down roads we wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves. Or that it means being held captive by [or enduring for a time] a certain hurt or painful circumstance, because within that pain is a path to greater closeness to God. A hard truth, indeed.But look, twice he promises "I'll bring you home." Twice he promises "You will find me." Is there anything better, especially after a long journey, than being home? And finding the Lord, being in his presence...is that not the desire of our hearts? Look at the beauty in creation pictured on this page. Do the breathtaking colors of fall not speak of his love? And of his tender care?
So take Jeremiah’s promise to heart… God does indeed have a distinct purpose and plan for you and for me, and it’s one He’s plotted with our eternal best in mind.
So incredibly grateful we're in this together,
Tammy
P.S. And okay, the puppies aren't exactly "fallish" but they were so cute!
Taken by my daughter in our neighborhood yesterday
Taken by my son a couple of days ago, also in our neighborhood
Hi Tammy,
ReplyDeleteGreat post and pictures! I can SO identify with you about "surrendering". I think the Lord is dealing with all of those that are really desiring His will in their lives. Once I said to the Lord "How do I let go and hold on at the same time?" Because that is what it felt like in a particular situation. But the more I get to know Him, I am finding that place "under the shadow of the Almighty" where you release, but continue to hold on to His promise. Chuck Swindoll says "When the focus is on Christ, contentment replaces anxiety." We all KNOW that, but it's good to hear someone else say it sometimes.
God knows our hearts and though we may trip, get thrown a loop and hobble along the way...He KNOWS our hearts are "panting after the waterbrook" and desire to please Him. What a loving Father we have!
His ways are so much more higher than mine, so His plans for me are so much better.
So glad we're on this journey together...
Letting go while holding on... What a great way to phrase that, Veronica. So true. God is faithful beyond words. I don't understand most of his ways and why some things happen, while others don't. But I can always, always trust his loving ways. Hugging you from here, lady, and praying for the day before you.
ReplyDeleteTamera,
ReplyDeleteIt's so true that in order for us to seek God's best for us, we have to be willing for Him to allow things in our lives that will grow us...even if they're painful.
My mom passed away when I was 19. She suffered for 4 years with cancer, and I can't tell you how painful it was to see her grow thinner and suffer through the pain day in and day out. At the time (and even still sometimes today), I could not see what "good" could come from it. I could not see how this "plan" God had for my life was anything that would bring me a future and a hope--not when all my hope was dying with my mom.
But God is incredible. He used that experience to draw me to Him, kicking and screaming. He used it to give me such a peace in knowing He is in control of every aspect of our lives. And He used it to give me an experience that would mature me more than anything else I've ever been through.
As Natalie Grant so wonderfully sings, "This is what it means to be held, how it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive. This is what it is to be loved and to know that the promise was that when everything fell, we'd be held."
Thanks for your words!
I just found that song on YouTube, Lindsay, and oh...what a treasure store of truth. Thank you for sharing that, and for sharing your heart. I can't imagine the pain of losing your mom at 19, and of watching her struggle with cancer for four years. Four years...
ReplyDeleteYour faith shines through you, lady, and blesses us. Thank you for sharing today, and no matter how many times I say this, I mean it with all my heart. I'm incredibly grateful we're traveling this road together.
Now to go buy that song on iTunes. I love Natalie Grant and don't know how I missed this one. Thanks again.
Thanks for your kind words, Tamera.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it's a great song! Speaks so strongly to my heart...
Hey sweet Tammy,
ReplyDeleteI'm getting on here later today--been out running most of the day (errands, that is...not literally "running" LOL). ~ Oh, what a powerful post today, friend, and one that spoke deeply to me. How easy it is to forget that God uses our hardships and pain for GOOD, and that He WILL bring us out of the trials (and, that He is ALWAYS with us, through the good AND bad!). ~ LOVE those beautiful pictures you shared--those leaves are gorgeous (Fall is my very favorite season) and the photos from your home look so warm and cozy! And yes, those doggies are cute too *grin*. Thank you again for sharing such inspiring posts with us---it means so much. ~ Love, Patti Jo
Hey Patti, quit huffin' and puffin', woman, and catch your breath! ;) And I have to say real quickly...
ReplyDeleteThose are NOT pics of my house. Those are of my friend Melodie's house. Isn't it lovely? Those are her precious dogs too. Melodie is so talented in grouping items together, at making things just "fit." She's a decorator extraordinaire! And I've asked her to please come and help me with my house after the first of the year. She's generously agreed, so come January, look out Franklin antique shops! Here we come! ; )
Thanks, Patti Jo, as always. Love our community here!
Oh...and Melodie, is it okay if I post pics of your lovely home and your precious pooches? "Yes," you say (after the fact)? Okay good, whew! Thanks! : )
ReplyDeleteLindsey, my heart goes out to you. My husband's mom has struggled with cancer off and on for 6 years...more on than off. Very rarely he mentions the possibility of her passing and I wonder how I can tell him that she's told me a couple milestones she wants to get through (his brother graduating from high school and then college)...tearing up just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteTammy, thank you for reminding us about God knowing His plans for us. It's one of my favorite verses and something I know we have to cling to at times.
Gorgeous pictures...but an even better post that I really needed to hear today! <3
ReplyDelete(And I'm also loving the comment thread here, too!)
Catherine, I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is to see someone suffer for so long. My mom didn't get to see my brother graduate high school. *sigh* Cancer stinks!
ReplyDeleteBut as we've been reminded, God has a higher purpose. This world is not our home. And that's DEFINITELY something to hang on to!
And let me tell you! Today's post was completely God's timing. After getting home today, it was one thing after another that hit. And I kept saying "'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord"...
ReplyDeleteAnd agree, Lindsay...Cancer stinks!
I'm just home from a BBB dinner with Joe and hopped on to check in. Catherine, Meghan, Lindsay and all, I'm covering you gals in prayer as I get ready for bed.
ReplyDeleteI thought about our community earlier tonight as the minister who offered prayer for dinner quoted Joshua 1:8-9, then asked us to repeat the scripture reference four times with him, great exercise because I still remember and couldn't wait to get home to read it again:
"8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Sleep well, sisters!