Enjoy the Journey with Christ

"Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 AMP

Journeys usually begin with so much excitement in anticipation of our final destination. Along the way, we can become tired, hungry, irritated, or downright impatient. We may also feel a bit anxious because we know that the unexpected can happen and we want to maintain as much control as we possibly can.

Rarely do we think of the bathroom breaks we must take, or the traffic jams that seem to delay our arrival. Whether traveling by plane, train, car or bicycle, we all just want to get there!

I want to tell you that your journey is not by accident, happenstance or random. Every journey we take in this life is purposeful. As a peculiar woman who leans and relies on the Lord Jesus Christ, your journey will not look like those around you.

You may be married while many around you are divorced.

You may be divorced while your friends are all married.

You may be an empty nester who is enjoying some free time after all the babies are on their own.

You may be a woman struggling with having children.

You could be a career woman who has prioritized your personal development and being a reliable source of income for your family.

You could also be a stay at home mom whose primary contribution to your family is the building of your home.

You could be a CEO, a politician, an athlete, or even just a woman who is not sure of her exact role or purpose. It does not matter your journey up to this point. All things work together for the good of those who love GOD and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Jesus Christ wants to come into your life and alleviate your burdens, pains, and fears. It does not matter the victories you've won or the battles you've lost, what you have or lack. It is no accident that you are reading this message.

No matter how long your road may seem, or the detours you've encountered along the way.

God didn’t bring you this far to only bring you this far!

When we are on a journey with the Lord, we must change our perspective. The destination is not the primary focus, rather it is the journey itself that transforms us and leaves an indelible print on our hearts and minds. 

We must ask the Lord for eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to perceive what His spirit is doing along the way, or we will miss out on the purpose of our journey while we worry about this and lose sleep over that. We are safe with Jesus. We can trust Him that no matter comes He will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). He is not a man that he should lie or the son of man that he should repent (Numbers 23:19).

As we fill many roles within our communities and families, it is crucial for us to regroup and recharge as we continually pour ourselves out for others -- our children, our husbands, our businesses, and on and on.

Speaking of journeys, I can recall going to Oklahoma as a child with my grandparents. My sisters and I were so excited to get there and play with our cousins. But there were exciting things along the way as well. Bigdaddy as we affectionately call our grandfather would always drive, but our grandmother was the GPS. Listening to them would be like being front stage at a comedy show!

We didn’t have GPS in vehicles or cell phones back then (80's baby), we had AAA triptik’s is what I think they were called. You had a complete printout of the journey and you could plan where you wanted to stop and eat and lodge. My sisters and I would be so excited and just beside ourselves in the back of the Lincoln Continental. We knew that once we got in that car, we were on our way to Oklahoma. There would be Aunt Eva’s milk and butter rice, our cousins with their country accents and free hairstyles from our older cousins, as well as unlimited playtime. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our journeys came with a map and we could plan our overnight stops and restaurants. As much as we want to control every single part of our journey, we soon learn that very little is within our control. 

But there is good news! We are not alone on this journey. 

Whether we acknowledge the existence of GOD or not, He is there. He is the silent companion that is always ready to be a part of our lives at any moment. He’s just waiting for us to open our eyes and see He is there, has always been there and will continue to be there. 

He is not like mankind. He’s not hanging around just in case we make it big. He’s not watching us intently in hopes that we fall so he can say haha. He's watching us but not for those reasons. He's waiting for us to accept his invitation and invite him in.

In fact, He is so “other” that we are unable to recognize His love because we have endured so much hurt and disappointment. 

He’s like the ICU nurse who comes in to save your life even when you want to die. 

He’s like the surgeon who operates on you while you’re sedated to remove any foreign object or growth. 

He is in everything and involved. We cannot see Him because we choose to close our eyes to the new mercies he provides daily.

We get angry with Him even after we have asserted that He doesn’t exist. 

We ignore Him until something bad happens and then it is his fault. 

The good news is that He already knew that would happen and He’s still so deeply in love with us He cannot treat us like we treat Him. 

Jesus Christ is that faithful friend who will never leave you. No matter what you have done or said, He is just waiting for you to respond to his invitation. He’s not keeping score of how many times you offended Him. And He’s not petty or seeking vengeance because you fell. He genuinely wants you to return to the shepherd of your soul.

HE DIDN’T BRING YOU THIS FAR TO ONLY BRING YOU THIS FAR! 

Keep going. 

Keep crying. 

Keep writing. 

Keep striving. 

Don’t you ever give up. 

He will never give up on you!