be steadfast, immovable

matthew 7: 13

 i had expressed earlier this summer that i had doubts in my mind about inadequacy while comparing myself to other individuals around me.  if you have not read my thoughts, click HERE for the blog post.

though doubts surface day in and day out about sometimes the most seemingly meaningless ideals, i am painfully striving to guard my heart on these negative thoughts and demeaning attacks.  i am tearing down walls that block me from living the abundant life the Lord came to provide.

sunday at church, my friend alex gave a short recap on his incredible summer working at ridgecrest, a summer camp for boys.  he spoke on ways that God was alive in his life, and how he responded to the Holy Spirit's tug at his heart.  he gave a verse that defined his summer experience. alex, too, came face-to-face with feeling inadequate at times because he shared that not one salvation came out of the summer, but i trust that God used alex in enormous ways in those young boys' lives.  i am positive that alex's actions this summer left a lasting impression of who jesus really is.  alex shared 1 corinthians 15:58 in the ESV.  though i do not typically reference ESV, i was captivated by the words he spoke.

"be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

this verse hit home in a very personal way.  you see, i was feeling as though i was inadequate, very useless.  i wasn't serving starving children in africa, i didn't visit an orphanage, i didn't medically treat those with diseases, i didn't get to be a youth leader or a summer camp counselor.  i only saw who i wasn't instead of seeing who i was in the Lord's eyes.  what i did was very foolish and very hurtful to my Maker, who perfectly used me here in starkville and surrounding areas this summer: there are two very special high school girls in my life that i have grown to know and adore, i can not believe i even saw loving these two girls and hiking through rainforests to get to a remote village as two different missions! slap me! now! jesus has opened my eyes.  i am working with what i have, where i am at, and investing in those around me; therefore, i am not inadequate, i am not useless.  this verse contained the living, breathing words of God that i needed to hear at that exact moment.  God's words comforted me immediately, on the spot. 

i encourage you to start looking at who you are in God's eyes, and not through the eyes of others. if you, like me, have or had doubts about your usefulness or if you yourself have felt purposeless, take a look at these verses:

"all praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  when others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." -2 corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

"i (the Lord) command you, be strong and courageous! do not be afraid or discouraged.  for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" -joshua 1:9 NLT

"so don't get tired of doing what is good.  don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. -galatians 6:9 NLT

"for God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." -philippians 2:13 NLT

"but people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work." -romans 4:5 NLT