This Life is Right on Time

It may not be what you want
What if it’s all that you need?
And everything in this life
Is here to set you free
All the light that you seek
Is shining on the inside
And if you just stop fighting
Maybe you would find
This life is right on time.

I’ve been hearing from leaders at my church that difficulty is a part of God’s rhythm. He’s not interested in making everything easy for us, but He’s interested in relationship and growth. Easy doesn’t help us grow.

As I started to dwell on this, I thought about some topics…Where did the idea that an easy life equals a good life come from? When was the last time I felt satisfied when things were easy? Have I ever grown from an easy situation? How have I grown in hard situations?

I’d been believing a lie. If only I had… If only my kids would… If only my husband would…If only my job was…If only God hadn’t asked me to…If only…

All of your wishes are stealing your joy.
You know it’s a journey,
But you’re missing the point.

I have been battling some depression, at times wondering if I am good enough to even be here. Thoughts would swirl in my head, and I would let them lead anywhere they wanted. They’d start with questions and then I’d let answers come from anywhere. “Am I doing enough for my family? Do they even care what I have to say? Am I making a difference in the world? Have I loved enough and given enough for people to know they matter? Why is it so hard if I am doing the right things? Where are you in all of this, God?”

The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that you may have life and have it to the full. – Jesus

I had forgotten this verse for a hot minute. Why did I let that light get snuffed out by that nasty thief?! I had to change my belief system. I also went to the doctor and adjusted my medicine. Both helped!

Full life doesn’t mean easy life. It means joy and trust and growth with God even in the hard. It means that maybe junk will be thrown at me from all directions. And guess what I realized? I can do hard things. I’ve got the light inside of me to help me shine and find joy. Trusting God’s “right on time” mentality and praying that anything I encounter that is difficult would be because He wants me to grow has changed something inside of me.

I don’t expect easy anymore. I expect God to grow me and show me what He has. I expect closeness with Him as we journey together. Will I still complain once in a while? Absolutely. Will I still ask God where He’s at once in a while? Probably. Will He still remind me this world is a fallen place and crap is going to happen that we could never imagine? Yes. And it breaks my heart.

But maybe my perspective shift has made all the difference.

It may not be what you want
What if it’s all that you need?
And everything in this life
Is here to set you free
All the light that you seek
Is shining on the inside
And if you just stop fighting
Maybe you would find
This life is right on time.
This life is right on time.

What have you been believing? We can do hard things. We can. Not alone, but we can do them. I promise. This is just the soundtrack of our life.

Photo by Heather Zabriskie on Unsplash