When we’re tempted to look back and think our best days are behind us, God knows better.
Every once in a while, I like to clean out my closets and drawers. Like clockwork, I’ll suddenly be struck with the urge to purge. I will pronounce to myself and anyone in close proximity, This weekend, I’m gonna stay home and get organized. I’m getting rid of stuff!
What inevitably happens, though, is that I will get derailed. I’ll stumble on old photos, trinkets, or loose papers I scribbled journal entries on.
I’ll end up sitting there, surrounded by clutter, to read and reminisce.
Ah.. I sure looked young back then in college. Not a care in the world and wrinkle-free.
Aw, look. There I am, fired up to change the world for Christ. The future looked bright.
Oh, there’s my Jeep. We sure put a lot of mileage on you, didn’t we? Untethered by responsibilities, we drove wherever we wanted to go.
Most of all, I longingly look into my innocent smile. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, life was wide open.
On a Bad Day
Now, my hands hold more baggage, my heart bears scars, and my soul is no longer a stranger to fears and insecurities.
On a bad day, I look back on who I was and feel like my best is already behind me. I stare into my daily schedule now, and it looks quite mundane. Life didn’t work out the way I expected.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my life now and appreciate everything God has abundantly blessed me with. I’m the kind of gal that will squeeze blood of out of this turnip called life. Give me a lemon, I’ll make lemonade.
Gratitude, however, didn’t keep me from feeling like life had reached an equilibrium. I thought the best I could hope for was to finish well. Persevere and stay the course.
I fell into the trap of thinking (incorrectly) that I was simply an older, not-so-shiny version of the best-of-Bonnie, in my youth.
The Beauty of Our Best Days Ahead
God loved me too much to let me wane and atrophy in ignorance.
He recently brought my attention to the story of the building of the second temple.
When the people of God built the temple a second time, while under captivity, it was a very modest building compared to famed King Solomon’s Temple.
The city was still in ruins. The walls would not even be rebuilt for years. Some of the old men who had seen the splendor of Solomon’s Temple thought this second temple looked pretty sorry and insignificant. (Ezra 3:10-13)
They cried and wailed in sadness and disappointment.
What was God’s response? (Zechariah 9:9-10, Haggai 2:1-9)
“Who despises the day of small things? … (My) hands will also complete it.
… My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!
… I will fill this temple with glory
… The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former.”
Like me, the people got it wrong.
They valued the temple, based on what it looked like, rather than the God who was dwelling in it.
You and I are temples of the living God. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
God Prefers To Build Low and Humble
Through the life of Jesus, we see that God takes the most modest path in accomplishing His most important and greatest works.
Jesus, Himself, chose the humble, lowly position and came as a servant.
His approach seems foolish to the world. Even to us.
You and I easily get discouraged when we look at our lives and only see small numbers or insignificant scenery.
We look into our bank accounts, our schedules, our health, and our constraints. We don’t see much God can work with.
That’s because we are not seeing through the eyes of faith.
I’d like to end my post with the words of Lambert Dolphin, a dear friend and brother in Christ, who has encouraged me countless times:
“Faithfulness in small things is how God grows something of lasting importance.”
Our best days are ahead of us. Why? Because the great God we follow is ahead of us. And His work in us is always the best.
What do you determine in factoring when you are “at your best”?
When you think about your future, what words come mind?
Today's post is the concluding Part 4 to the series Slaying My Dragons of Fear.
Be sure to read:
Part I: My review of Max Lucado's newly released book Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
Part 2: Are You a Feargazer?
Part 3: A Newbies Quick Guide To Faithgazing
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20 Comments
So true!!! I do the same thing all the time! I start out with good intentions, then I get caught up in the past, the memories etc. Great post!
In my mind we are at our best when we are letting God work through us, connected to other people, and God is glorified.
Most unhappiness takes place when we try to derive meaning from an existence that is meaningless without God.
Bless you Bonnie for letting God’s love shine through you and your blog… I feel connected to God through your words and honesty. Praise Him 🙂
I just love your style, your genuine encouragement without condescension or preaching.
“Who despises the day of small things? … (My) hands will also complete it.”
Oh, I just LOVE that verse. It is SO where I have been, where I am. There is so much lovely Tomorrow in it, isn’t there?
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Ah, Bonnie. You just made my day with this. Thank you!
The Beauty of our Best Days Ahead…well said! Great post, Bonnie.
This is fantastic…..such TRUTH!
So I believe that God loves me too much to keep me where/how I am.
Amen!
Your words really touched me today, I can totally relate! Thank you so much for sharing. I love your perspective!
@Maureen: Yes, it’s easy to get caught up in the past. It seems to get more alluring with each year that passes by.
@Russell: It’s true. As easy it is to be happy, it’s just as easy to be unhappy when we try to make up meaning for ourselves. Bless you, brother.
@Kelly: Thank you, Kelly! What an encouragement. “There is so much lovely in tomorrow.” There’s that beautiful poet at work :). Wonderful turn of words that is true.
@Billy: That makes me happy to know, Billy. Thank you!
@Bridget: Thanks, Bridget! Happy Monday, girl!
@Michelle: Thank God for His patience and words. Thanks, Michelle!
@Jennifer: Whew. It’s not just me. Great to see you here this Monday, Jennifer! Almost there. 😉
Thanks, Bonnie. I totally needed to hear that.
Very true! Great stuff 🙂
@Elaine: So glad you’re here, Elaine! How are you?
@Bianca: Thanks for being here, Bianca. Especially with your crazy speaking schedule. 😉
I’ve been known to say, “This is the best _____(whatever)” I say it about food, about the day, about whatever we’re doing, it’s the best. And I mean it. Everything before becomes a part of the now. Getting brighter and brighter or going from glory to glory. Learning to appreciate the sunrises and sunsets more and more.
It’s scriptural too. Check it out…
“But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18
“But we… are being transformed… from glory to glory…
2 Corinthians 3:18
THIS IS THE BEST POST I’VE EVER SEEN.
SEE.
@Doug: Doug, I hope I can be able to be more like you, appreciating the “sunrises and sunsets more and more.” Thanks for the verses, too. Reading them just encouraged me.
Bonnie,
I woke up yesterday, and my knee hurt. I went out for a run today, and my legs hurt. And it’s easy to say – ugh…my body’s not the same. And maybe externally, it’s not. Internally, though, at my soul – I am connecting much more with what matters. And really what matters is that I’m at this spot in my life. And those are indeed awesome days ahead!
Hi, Bonnie! I love this post. I’m at my best when I can look around and find encouragement in the small things.
@Lance: “Internally, though, at my soul – I am connecting much more with what matters.” The unseen is where the important activities are happening.
@Heather: Hey, Heather. How is your R&R? I like that thought: the small things holds the jewels of encouragement. Thank you. I pray God can help me see them more and more!
[…] I fell into this place of love this week, in the palm of my Master’s hands — when I was frail bumping into my imperfections and melancholy, reminiscing earlier days. […]
[…] Sometimes, in order proceed onto a new path, we need to leave what’s familiar behind. […]
I’m a strange sort, who maintains that no verse of the Bible is boring. Those chronologies that mean nothing to most? Each one of those people had a life and a story, and a reason for having their name recorded in God’s Word. Many were humble servants of no noteriety to us.
But their names are written in the Book.
And so is mine.
Thank you for bringing this to my mind today, Bonnie.