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. If only we could hear the love in God’s voice, when He sees us downcast at our smallness. What would He say?
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. Nothing too big is impossible for God. More importantly, nothing is too small for Him either.
What do you determine in factoring when you are “at your best”?
When you think about your future, what words come mind?
Only a few days before the new year turns, I hope this post has encouraged.
It was published earlier this year on Faith Barista.
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22 Comments
Bonnie: This post spoke right to my heart today. It was clear and powerful, full of truth and I appreciate it. This is something I do far too often, lamenting how good I used to be. The image of the second temple cut right through the lies and refocused me on who God is. Thank you again for sharing.
How wonderful to meet each other in a common encouragement. The curtain hasn’t closed on us yet! 😉
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I tend to do the same thing… 🙁
Why is that, huh? Funny thing is, I’ll look back at today’s photos in a few years and think the same thing! Good thing God is in charge of me. LOL. 😉
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This is beautiful, Bonnie. You somehow always seem to know what I need to hear.
Thanks!
That makes my day.
There are times our Father puts me in a quiet place. That’s what I call it when my world seems to shrink and I don’t feel like I’m doing anything for the furtherance of His kingdom. I feel like I’m just sitting around and I begin to wonder what’s going on or I compare myself to what I see or read others are doing and find myself lacking. I’ve complained to Him about the lack and ask Him what I’ve done wrong. He doesn’t answer me at first and I make myself miserable by beating myself up. When He does choose to speak it has been to re-assure me and to give me a break or teach me more for what lies ahead. I’m in one of those quiet places now and have had thoughts of ‘maybe I’m too old or broken’. Most of the time I quickly chase them out of my head due to the past experiences of being in the quiet place. Although, it seems, the thoughts have slipped in unawares. Your words…
‘They valued the temple, based on what it looked like, rather than the God who was dwelling in it. 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.’
…are exactly what I needed to read and be reminded of. THANK YOU so very much to both you and our Father.
This quiet place you are in… it is the place where we will come to know our Father loves us beyond all we think we need to be. Isn’t it wonderful to know He loves what others might despise and find unpromising?! I want to shout it from the mountain top!
I like a version of that old television commercial about “just getting better”. And I think we do continue getting better when we learn to be true to ourselves, to whom we are inside.
It has taken me a while to reach this point and I was not always able to do so, but I do try now not to look back and compare myself to myself. The person I was then I am not now. And who I am now is who I am meant to be.
So, I am at “my best” when I give myself permission to be who I am, and not someone trying to meet someone else’s expectations or realities. And who I am is someone seeking daily more knowledge, more opportunities to use the gifts with which I am blessed, and more wisdom to use those gifts wisely, so they matter. (I hope I’m succeeding.)
Very wise words of encouragement, which I really value.
“who I am now is who I am meant to be.” That is what I am praying for increasing faith to believe. I know it in my head, I pray it really settles in my heart, so I can practice looking away from other’s expections (which somehow always find me, even against my invitaiton). 😉
Okay Bonnie, you’re 2 for 2 on hitting my proverbial nail right on the head! Both your (In)Courage post and this one feel like they were meant just for me. Over the last 3 years my family has lost so much, and the length of the trial we are in makes it feel sometimes like we might never get out. And then there’s the aging, the weight-gain, the stuff that makes me feel a little left behind and it’s pretty easy to go down the path of thinking that the “good ol’ days” were better than anything that might be ahead. When I’m thinking right, guided by the One who loves me minute by minute and is building me into the me He made me to be, I can stand in calm confidence that the best is yet to come. I LOVE the verses you shared about the temple, and the truth and joy they bring to my heart. Thank you for allowing God to use you and the gifts He’s given you to bless me so richly today!
The blessing is really all mine. To know that encouragement and comfort that I have received from “the One” has also touched you — in the same way? Leaves my heart amazed and happy. Thank you for blessing me!
The length of our trials are HARD. That is why we must encourage each other to hold on — for as long as they last – we have to keep being there for each other — and just know there is good ahead, even when the days are wearing on us.
You will rise again one day, along with your family, to bless the Lord — and your best days ARE ahead of you! God is filling the temple of you and your family, day by day. He is our strength when we have none! Blessings to you this year, dear sister!
Bonnie, I found your site via your (in)courage post. Both posts have given me such encouragement (and, quite honesly, relief!) today. Thank you so much for sharing.
So happy to know this spoke to you — because it surely relieved me & I could breathe and smile, excited to know a truth about my inner self. Others might not see, but you and I, along with the Lord can know our best days ARE ahead!
Sometimes I think that so much of my past was wasted and all that my best years are behind me. It’s funny that earlier today I started contemplating several ideas for a more “fulfilling” life related to how my days are spent. Even though I know it, I needed to hear that my best days are ahead of me and that those days are possible because of my faith.
Oh, Kim. I am so excited for you, because the Lord has obviously got a word of encouragement for you — with our ideas for a more “fulfilling ” life on how to spend your days — ! I hope you go for it — as we are encouraged that what others can’t see, God is still doing in us — the second temple was greater than the first — and God promises to take us from glory to glory. It might not look that way on the outside, but everything fulfilling, you are right – it is possible by faith!
Wow, this entry is so ME. The reflective times are keeping me from packing swiftly. Feels so bad and so good at the same time.
I’ll try to make routine cleaning up of clutter my family tradition. Your post is very timely and relevant.
I’ve been out of town this week. I returned to find a DM from Ginny (MAD21) telling me that I MUST read this post. She knows the struggles I’ve been having lately. And she knew that this post would speak deeply to my heart. And she was right. It did. Thank you for sharing this!
What a wonderful New Year Day blessing you are, Sarah! Thank you for sharing yourself. I am so happy to know what has spoken deeply to my heart and moved me, has also done the same for you. The second temple was GREATER than the first. Our best days are ahead of us!