For the past several weeks (honestly, ever since my last contribution to the weekly blog) I’ve wondered what I could say that would effectively wrap up The Journey sermon series. It is the end of this particular topic, however, just like in real life, the journey isn’t about to end. The definition of journey itself says:
A passage or progress from one stage to another OR a distance, course.
Yes, a journey can end but that usually only happens when you get to where you are going or accomplish what you set out to do. As Christians, we are on a constant journey to get to where we should truly want to be…Heaven. We should be constantly trying to accomplish The Great Commission given us by Jesus Christ Himself until the day He calls us home to Him. We will still be on the journey long after this series ends.
The dilemma, then, is how do we continue to do that without Mark or Scott (or even Stacy’s amazing message) to fire us up each Sunday? I mean, life never stops happening, right? Things never come up out of the blue and get in the way of us being pumped up to walk the right path with God, do they? I hope you know I was being sarcastic there. We all know that life comes fast and sometimes it comes hard. We can easily be swayed to lose track of what just days prior we were determined to do. We slip up, go back to old ways, and though our intentions were good we forget to start the journey anew.
Despite all the things I have going on in my life the main one that reminds me of my walk with Christ is my role as a mother. I have been on a journey as a parent ever since two weeks before Brayden, my oldest, was born almost five years ago. If that sounds odd to you, feel free to stop me or David any time for further explanation because that’s an ENTIRELY different story all together. Anyway, ever since becoming a mom I have really seen things differently as a Christian. God not only showed me His grace and faithfulness by allowing me to obtain this role, He also has shown me how He possibly looks at me from time to time.
I am not a perfect parent. There are days I have to take a deep breath, while looking at my son, and just silently question what in the world I’m supposed to do. Like me, he didn’t come with a manual. No one told me how to maneuver this current road we are on with Brayden. He has learned to be more assertive, speak more defiantly, and push the limits to see how far he can push us before we absolutely lose it. He is pretty darn good at it too. I have found myself looking to my youngest son, Jaxson, and begging him not to put me through this again in about three years. But if there is anything I’ve learned during the entire time I’ve been a mother so far is this…this part of their lives will end with a new part beginning. David and I will start a new branch of the road we are on as parents in due time. It will be different from the one we are on now. It will be far from the one we started on when our boys first came to be with us. And together we will continue traveling on this journey together throughout our boys’ lives. Like Christ with me, I will not stop journeying with Brayden and Jaxson until the day The Lord calls me home.
So, like parenting, the journey doesn’t end after one hurdle is overcome. All of us that are current parents know that a new, sometimes more challenging one, pops up the second we clear the other. The same goes for life. New obstacles pop up all the time. Some are good and some are very bad. The object is not to forget what we’ve learned, but more importantly, not to forget Who has already beat that obstacle before us.
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NASB)
Read that again so you can begin to ingrain it into your head. Christ has overcome the world. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing worries Him. Nothing is too much for Him. He is ready to walk beside you on the current journey you are on. He will be willing and able to walk ahead of you or even carry you during the rough patches in the road.
It’s easy to be afraid of what you can’t see. It’s also really easy to second guess what you know you have to do. But we can take heart in knowing that The Lord is there.
“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in The Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP)
When it’s hard to stay on the path before you, the right path, know you can lean on, trust in, and be confident in The Lord. Remember everything you’ve heard and learned from Mark, Scott, and Stacy during this series. Hold on to other teachings you’ve heard and your own readings. He will direct your paths if you trust in Him. He is ready to walk the path with you, ahead of you, or even for you in everything. Stay on the journey until the end.