Eric Suddoth's Blog

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Can you really be confident and have humility at the same time?

I have a friend when we would talk about humility and he would always say, but Moses was the most humble man ever lived and he wrote that…since he’s alluded to writing the book of Numbers. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. Numbers‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭)

Was Moses prideful by saying that? Or was he sincerely humble?

I was taught to be humble, but in this world humility is often perceived as a weakness. A doormat. A limp noodle. No backbone. I’ve even been asked by people if I have low self-esteem (which I do not), because they perceive my humility as a possible negative.

But would we say Jesus was a doormat, a limp noodle or weak. No. He had a strong sense of humility.

I heard Tara Leigh Cobble (The Bible Recap) say this term, confident humility and I liked it.

We can be humble in ourselves but still confident in knowing God can do it. It’s like the verse, I must become less and He must become greater (John 3:30). It’s realizing I am only who I am, where I am, what I am because of Him. It’s realizing my dependence in on the One who sees the full picture and not just the Instagram photo.

I love the story of David. He was a small, young shepherd who people may have looked down on, but He had the confidence through God to be used to take down a giant.

What is your giant in your life that you need to believe is going to fall? Not because of your strength, but because of God’s strength.

You can push and push that mountain, but it will only fall into the sea when you realize it’s not you that’s going to make it fall, but God.

But in this world we are taught to be number 1, be the leader, take charge, forge your destiny, take the road untraveled…it’s an upside down kind of thinking to take a step back and allow God to be number 1.

But when we prioritize God ahead of ourselves you may start to see the rest of your life shifting into place. Now the shifting doesn’t mean it’s going to be painless or easy, because we are called to pick up our cross, but the shifting may bring peace and strength you could never find on your own accord.

Christ calls us to come to Him in all circumstances. Good and bad. Weak and strong. Broken and whole.

He bids us to come to Him at all times so we will always know He is where our true strength comes from. He is our safe house, our home, our center.

I’ve been struggling with the idea of pride and humility lately and where I see my future. Because to be successful in the world’s eye it takes self promotion. But God has been speaking to me so much lately to not fear.

Don’t worry about four steps ahead, just follow Me. Have I ever led you stray before?

Don’t worry about numbers, just remember what I said. I can multiple two fish into basket fulls.

Don’t worry about people, just remember what I’ve done. I can cause kings and Pharaohs to obey My commands.

Don’t worry about the trials, just remember how I’ve overcome. I’ve split seas and sealed lions mouths.

Don’t worry about yourself, just remember how much I love you. I created you for such a time as this.

So, if you’re going through something hard, God created you with all you need to overcome it. Because He lovingly and wonderfully created you with the need to rely on Him and He can overcome anything.

Maybe it’s time to lay down your pride and raise the white flag and surrender to self. Then maybe you will see the King of Kings stoop down and say, “Oh my child, my sweet, sweet child. Abba is here. Just be still and rest. I’ll take care of this.”

May we all see our worth is so much greater in His eyes than in our own reflection of who we think we are.

The interesting thing about God. That when we bow down to Him, He doesn’t leave us there. He doesn’t keep us down like a tyrant or ruthless king. No, He lift us up. Calls us co-heirs.

You may think you weren’t born into nobility. But that’s the furthest from the truth. You are a child of the King. And a King never lets their child be disgraced.

A King always crowns their child.

May you wear your crown not with earthly pride, but the pride of being loved and known by the God who wants the best for you.

Peace

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Why does life have to be hard sometime? Why are their rainy days? Or Mondays? Or dentist appointments? Or ACT tests?

Why does there have to be these little temporary pains?

At least, I hope they are temporary. But I guess, anything in life is temporary. Because eventually whatever we are going through in life will end, even if that end is death. Isn’t that just a lighthearted notion with rainbows and butterflies?

This pain will eventually end even if it’s death that forces it to end.

But most of our pains will not end in death.

Some pains will end with a new start. A new hope. A new day. A new bloom. A new chance.

I have entered into a season in my life when I’m facing pains. Pains I didn’t see coming or expect. Pains that I wish would disappear and not return. Pains that make we want to turn around and run.

But I’m also facing this period with the perspective that these momentary pains are going to lead to something better.

Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture.
‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love this image of how God in His loving nature may send us storms, because He sees what will come from those storms. Without the storms we may become a dry, desolate, abandoned, wasteland.

But with the storms we can become a lush, vibrant, stronger, healthy body.

What we may see as a rainy storm cloud. God sees as a provision for tomorrow.

What we may see as a hurdle. God sees as a lesson forcing us to faithfully jump.

What we may see as a heartache. God sees as a period of pruning and restoration.

What we may see as a failure. God sees as a chance for a new beginning.

What we may see is definitely not as God sees. So, if we know God sees beyond the tomorrows, why do we worry about it today?

Why do we struggle to stay one step ahead, when God is telling us to slow down and follow Him?

Yes. I am learning. Well, I’m trying to learn.

I’m trying to lean in during the hard moments, and feel His tenderness. I’m trying to rest in the uneasiness, and feel His peace. I’m trying to shake off the doubts that try to hold me back and feel His hands untangling the knots.

I’m trying to close my eyes in the darkness of this world and believe that the Light of this world is still guiding my path.

Temporary pains…are not fun. But they are temporary.

May we breathe a little easier knowing that despite what comes our way it’s not a surprise to Him. He knows our tomorrows and has a plan to get us through it. And He’s going to be there with us through all of it.

So if life brings a little pain, so be it. May we realize that when we feel pain all we have to do is refocus to feel He is with us through the pain. He is there through the tears, through the doubts, through the broken relationships, through the lies, through the layoffs, through the test results.

He never said He would keep us from pain. But He promised to always be with us in the midst of it. And what’s better? A life of no pain separated from God or a life with pain with the nearness of God?

Truly ask yourself. Can you truly say, God bring the storms as long as you stay with me through them?

I hope you can. Because storms are going to come in life.

But when they do I hope you remember that the God who holds the storms also holds you in them.

Sometimes storms are what God uses in order for us to feel Him. I wish we could we learn to seek after and feel Him in sunny days. But if we forget, may He use the storms of this life to remind us of His goodness and eternal promise. May the pains we feel cause us to look to Him for hope.

And what better place to look than Him?

Because He knows how the temporary pains are going to end. He knows and that should be good enough for me.

Peace

“to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭136‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This year has been a year of learning to trust and to jump. It’s easy to trust when I’m walking on a sidewalk. It’s easy to jump when I see a pool of water. But it’s harder to walk off a ledge blindly knowing I’m going to be okay.

Today is actually my birthday so as I sit and reflect on the last year I have learned quite a bit. But what I’m learning the most is

God’s Got This

God doesn’t need my help. He’s perfectly capable.

God doesn’t need my suggestions. He already has it planned out.

God doesn’t need my anything. He’s got everything.

I’ve been planning my future lately. And the thing with planning, there can be some nervousness and anxiety. Planning is good, but when planning turns to worry, it’s not good.

It hit me this morning, it’s okay to plan, but I need trust and stand back, throw my hands up in the air and watch God move in ways I never could.

Reading stories of faith in the Bible is so encouraging. Stories when man just stood back and watched God move.

Moses wasn’t anything special. Yet, he stood back and watched the Red Sea split.

Daniel wasn’t anything special. Yet, he stood back and watched God protect him from the lions.

Throughout the Bible battles were won, dry bones came to life, rivers stopped flowing, the sun stopped moving, a cloud and fire guided, birds delivered food, servants were raised up, kings were brought down, barriers were built up, walls were torn down, outcasts became queens, and upper class were humbled…all by God.

If He did it then.

He can do it now.

So, this next year I’m going to pray. Sometimes I will step forward in faith, but sometimes I will step back in faith. And then I will wait and watch for God to move.

In the last few months I have seen God moving in my life in ways I could never foresee. Moving in directions I didn’t see possible. Moving in areas and other people’s lives that are bumping into mine. But it’s not an accidental bump.

No. God is orchestrating all the paths and parties to converge into one uniquely divine paved road.

And I’m humbled to be apart of this journey that He planned before the dawn of time.

And He has a plan for you.

The God who imagined and created you, made you for a purpose. A good purpose.

Maybe it’s time for you to step back and look around. And maybe, just maybe, you will see God move. Because I promise you…He’s moving. But sometimes when you’re moving, you can’t see His presence. Sometimes what you see as your movements are actually His. But if you step back…be still…breathe and wait…you will see He’s been moving this whole time.

You were just moving so you couldn’t see it.

So, may we stop. Hold tight to the faith that God is on the move. And wait for His actions to leave us speechless.

Because thank God, He’s still moving.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am someone who plans.

I set goals. I make agendas. I dream about the future.

I think in order for someone to move forward you have to have a plan.

I heard someone say, which is one of the wisest words I have heard in some time, “You cannot drift close to God.”

If you want to grow closer to God, you have to be intentional. It just doesn’t happen. You won’t wake up tomorrow without doing anything and be closer to God. You have to focus on Him and move toward Him.

You may wonder if my title is an oxymoron, Trust the Planner, Not Your Plan, when I’m writing about plans.

But the Planner I am meaning isn’t you. You may have a plan, but it’s not The Plan.

It’s the ultimate Planner who has everything planned out perfectly. You don’t have everything perfectly lined up.

It’s God.

I know God has a plan. And I need to believe His plan is good. I want to believe that He has a good plan for my life.

But sometimes, if I’m honest, I give God some pointers in what His plan for my life should be.

God, I think I need to go this direction. I want to do this. I want to go there. I want to be this.

I come up with a plan with my tunnel vision peripheral not seeing how Decision 1 will impact X Y & Z.

But our all knowing God sees all aspects of our Decision 1.

We plan in hopes of seeing the endgame we have planned in our mind.

He plans knowing the true endgame.

Trusting in the Planner who knows the Plan should be simple.

Should be…but isn’t.

Because when the Plan isn’t what we have planned, we selfishly slide God off his throne and hop in the driver seat to divert a hiccup but ultimately leads straight to a bigger disaster.

May we learn to trust the Planner who cares so much about us who took the time to Plan the color of our hair, the number of freckles on our face, the placement of our birthmark. No detail is too small for the Planner. Nothing is done without intentional and unconditional love.

And if the Planner knows the number of hairs on your head, don’t you think He knows the more important things in your life? Wouldn’t the Planner who breathed life into your lungs, breathe it for a purpose?

A big purpose?

Never doubt your importance, because the creator of the universe took His time creating you. You were important enough for Him to create, so your Plan is an exceedingly, unbelievably good one.

So, trust the Planner for an incredible Plan.

Because He has one.

You just have to lean into Him to discover it.

May we learn to lean into Him a little more and rely on ourselves a little less. Then and only then will you discover The Planners Plan for your incredible life.

Peace

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever held on to something for dear life?

A tree limb or a rope? Maybe a relationship or even a dream?

I am a good holder. A really good holder.

I’m not bragging in the next few sentences, but stating my case. I presume myself to fairly patient knowing things have a tendency to sift themselves out. I have an extraordinary amount of faith to always believe that everything is going to work out. I have a positive attitude in most situations to encourage and lift up those who can’t see the silver lining in the rainstorm.

I am a pretty good holder.

I love the verse in Hebrews commanding us to hold tight even when the going gets tough. Hold tight to the One who has everything planned out. Hold tight to the God who says I will never let you fall away from me.

What I’m not good at is letting go.

Letting go of my manmade ropes that have tied and tethered me to a safe location. Letting go and stepping out in the scary darkness when optimism is unseen like the hand in front of my face. Letting go and trusting in the unseen one who securely holds the ropes somewhere from my finite vision.

I’m really bad at letting go.

But faith requires both actions.

It’s like little kids who hold daddy’s hand when they walk. The dad lets them know he’s got them. But he doesn’t have to tell them, they know, because they are being held. His actions show them that there is nothing to fear. His firm grasp around their little hands is proof that they are not alone.

But change the situation to a little kid at a swimming pool and the dad is calling for them to jump into his big, strong arms. Some kids don’t see the big, strong arms. They see they are not held anymore and fear and doubt creeps in.

Do I follow and jump? Or do I run off to mom?

I feel like this is God.

Come on, Eric. Jump. I got you. I’m big enough to catch you. You have a history of memories of me holding you when you were nervous, scared, uptight. And I carried you through all of those times. Come on, Eric. Trust me.

So, I’m going to jump. I may not know where I’m going to land, but I know who’s going to be there waiting. I don’t know when I’m going to be caught, but I know His timing is perfect. I don’t know what the world may say, but I know what He will.

It’s funny, so often with faith we equate following God with success. I hear people say, “God won’t lead you astray.”

But he led the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years.

Others will say, “God will provide.”

But the Israelites complained about their daily provision.

Still others will paint a rosy picture of a perfect life.

But no where in the Bible does it say following Christ will lead to a perfect life without stress, problems, concerns, cancer, death, financial ruin.

But what it always guarantees is you won’t be alone.

Your friends may think you’re crazy and leave you. But I won’t be alone?

Your family may disown you. But I won’t be alone?

Your safety net may vanish. But I won’t be alone?

Your professional reputation may tarnish. But I won’t be alone?

Your clients and customers may call you a laughing stock. But I won’t be alone?

Your readers may post bad reviews. But I won’t be alone?

I may be physically alone. But I won’t be alone?

God never guarantees success in following as the world defines it. But His definition may be a little better.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I often say that obedience to God should be its own reward in following a God who is beckoning you to walk beside him when He could choose any other person to journey beside. And at the end of my time, shouldn’t that be the best reward?

That the God of this universe knows my name.

That the God who causes flowers to bloom is calling me to sprout where I have been planted.

That the God who knows the number of galaxies he breathed out also knows the number of hairs on my aging head.

Yes. How can I not jump into the arms of a God who is begging me to trust him and rest in His arms and partake in a journey that I couldn’t even have dreamed.

So, it’s about time. I’m getting my holding hands ready to let go and see what is in store.

Maybe it’s time for you to let go and fall into the arms who will always catch you.

We all have a dream. We all have a purpose. It’s about time to use your dream to fulfill your purpose.

Peace

If you need to jump, check out my book Dream Chasers. I hope it causes you to see God has an incredible dream for you. Here is the link for you to check it out.

https://a.co/d/cli7dS2

Dream Chasers: A Journey of Faith

There are two speeds in life, speed up or slow down. While you are young you can’t wait to be a cool teenager, dating, driving, eventually graduating and earning your own money so you want to hurry it up,

Then when you get older you look back at your youth and wish to go back to those easier times, reminiscing of when you had hair and could easily read this text without cheaters.

Sadly, we are seldom content with where we are at now.

I have heard various songs when the singer is telling his or her younger self some life lessons learned. And that is an interesting concept.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would you tell?

Would you tell your younger self that you are going to succeed and not worry so much? Or would you tell yourself not to make a certain decision? Or would you tell yourself to enjoy a particular moment that you now regret not cherishing it?

I think if we are honest we could all look back and have something to tell our younger self.

These last two months have been interesting for me. Over a decade ago an idea of a family came to me. I thought about this family and their secrets and problems for about a year. Then I sat down one summer and wrote this emotion filled story.

I tried to get it published, but no one wanted it.

So it sat on my computer for a few years unread.

I released my first book about seven years ago, Solomon’s Dreams and then an inspirational book Dreams Chasers. I started writing Solomon’s Dreams 2, but remembered I had this other story of this family on my computer.

COVID happened and I released this book in June of 2020. I got some good reviews, but nothing spectacular for this family drama. I moved forward and would every once in a while mention this story, but focused on other works because I wondered if the story wasn’t really that good since it was the second novel I ever wrote. (Solomon’s Dreams – the first book I published but was actually the fourth book I wrote). And many times authors do not release early novels because as they write more, their craft gets betters.

So I continued to push forward and write new stories.

But once again, I liked this story. I liked the drama between the sisters. I liked the friction between the married couple. I liked the ethical matter with the pharmaceutical company. I liked the division between friends. And I loved the faith aspect of it that even though the characters didn’t understand why things were happening, there was a reason for it.

I thought this book had many layers and it wasn’t just a story of one plot, but multiple plots that (hint hint) Intertwined.

Well, something happened two months ago. I noticed this little story that had been available for 5 years was starting to get noticed. Two months later, I keep seeing this book continue to rise on the charts.

This post isn’t to pat myself on my back, but it’s to encourage us all to be patient. I would never have thought 4 years ago this book would be my most popular book ever after such a feeble start. But sometimes life surprises us.

So, if you are not where you want to be…be patient.

If you are not who you want to be…be patient.

If you think it’s taking forever to get to your destination…be patient.

If you think that it’s too late…be patient.

God has a plan. I don’t know what that plan is, but I can rest in the confidence that He does.

So, if you are feeling like you are in a time of waiting, know God is moving even if you don’t see anything.

It may take years for the proverbial planets to align, but take heart, God knows the date and time.

So, enjoy the process, there is something that can be learned. Rest in this season of longing, because spring will come. Hope in the valley, because the sun will streak through. Find strength in your weakness, because you can’t do it all. Because when we search for meaning, we may not find it, but we will find Him in the process.

So, take heart my friend. Take heart.

If you are interested in reading this story that has become a success, it is available on Amazon. Or ask your local library to purchase it so others can experience this beautiful tale of hope.

Peace

https://a.co/d/diNNmnW

What is your story? I don’t mean a piece of literature.

I mean your story.

We all have a story. We all have a journey of how we came to be. We all have a path with twists and turns better than some movies.

So have you shared it? Have you told your story to someone going through a similar trial you went through? A trial you overcame to give them some hope. Or maybe a circumstance that you lost to show then you were not totally defeated.

That even though you lost, you are still living ready to face another challenge.

Or maybe you see your story as a failure. Maybe you need to share your story with yourself and hear you are not your worst outcomes. You are not your mistakes. You are not what you have told yourself you are.

There is a vulnerability in sharing your story. To share the innermost parts of your soul to better someone else. To undress the baggy sweaters you proverbially wear to keep yourself safe from getting hurt again.

But if you are living in fear, in isolation, in separation…are you truly living? Or are you merely existing in a state of your own making?

Just like in a movie or book, life rarely occurs how you expect it. Or it would be boring. Who wants to watch a movie or a boring man waking up, having breakfast, going to work, coming home, watching some television and then going to bed.

Yet, this is how so many of us live. We are content with a mediocre life because livening it up a little bit takes a little work. And if we are honest, we don’t want to liven it up.

If that is you, so be it. Live your life vicariously through the characters on TV.

But if it’s not you, it’s time to liven it up.

What is something that gets you smiling when you think about it? What causes your endorphins to escalate when that idea pops into your head. What is that dream that you think is impossible?

What if it’s not?

What if it’s just impossible because of you. Because you’re too afraid to take a chance for fear of failing. Fear of looking bad to others. Fear of starting over.

But what if your precipice of fear is someone else’s launching point for them taking a step forward. What if your step ultimately is the make or break of someone else’s future?

Would you try it then? Would you take that step to show your daughters there is nothing to hard for them. Would you take that step to show your sons they are never too old to chase their dream. Would you take that step if you knew your lack of steps would cause the world to halt?

You may say, “I’m not that important and no one notices me.” So, why fear what they would say then. But just maybe your time in the shadows is over and this breakthrough is like a coming of light.

What if your step lighted someone else’s path?

It’s a sad life to live with what ifs.

It’s time to dismiss the what ifs for why nots.

Why not take that chance. Why not take that step. Why not share your story with someone. No question marks here.

You may think your life has no meaning, but to someone you mean the world to them.

May you see your life as a story, not to hide under a bushel, but to share and share and share. Go and tell it on a mountain, on a rooftop, at the dinner table, in the mirror.

Then and only then can the world be changed for the better.

Peace

Have we gotten lax in our way of thinking?

I’m seriously asking.

Have we gotten lazy, stagnant, content with fill in the blank?

Do we truly know the meaning of sacrifice anymore? Or is it just a nice word we say to make us feel better about ourselves when we feel like we went a little further than the person next to us?

But is that really a sacrifice if we compare ourselves to one another and see we stepped out and served an extra hour more than Mr. Jones. Or I gave $10 more than Mrs. Smith.

I wonder if at the end of our lives and we stand before God and we regale of all our accomplishments that we performed in His name, if He’s going to say “Well done?”

Or is He going to look at us and say, “No, you did them in your name and in your merit. You never asked for help and strength from Me.”

I often wonder, “How much is enough?”

Where is the line to show God that I truly depend on Him? Where is the bar I need to reach to show Him my devotion? Where is the mark in knowing I did enough?

I know works do not save us. We can never earn God’s love. His love is unconditional. His love is limitless. His love is unending.

But my love and sacrifice is. Sadly I have a line drawn that I will not cross if it causes too much time, energy, money, or effort.

Sadly, there are times when I feel selfish and want to hold back and let someone pick up the slack. But should I?

Is it Biblical to stand back and let others serve when I am capable? Is it Biblical to not give until it hurts? Is it Biblical to not feel the need to cry out to God for help everyday just to meet my daily needs?

I sometimes wonder if the faith of someone in a third world country is purer than mine. Because they know the feeling of complete dependence. They pray for God’s provision as I pray for thanksgiving.

Is there a difference from God’s eye?

When a contrite heart is something God will not despise. What about an unbroken heart? What about a self sustaining heart? What about a plentiful heart? What about a blessed heart? Will God not despise that?

I’m not sure I will ever get an answer. But something in my gut tells me that if I’m questioning, then there’s room to sacrifice a little more.

If I can fall asleep in comfort when I know someone beyond my walls is not as fortunate, should my heart compel me to sacrifice a little more? Shouldn’t my ultimate comfort be in the One who gives comfort than in the comfort of my own making?

I’ve been told that if I don’t pray to the Holy Spirit daily for comfort then my day should have been counted as wasted. A wasted day of not turning to the One who will always meet my needs.

Sadly, I don’t pray for comfort that often.

May we all look at ourself and see where the line of true sacrifice is drawn. Sadly, I’m not sure if I’ll actually see it on my lavish beach of always having what I need. I may need to step out and walk further away from my lemonade and shaded beach chair.

Peace

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭36‬-‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s easy to compare ourselves to someone else. We can always find someone and say, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as her.” There is always going to be someone with a shady past you can recall to make yourself feel better.

But are we really any better?

There is beautiful story from the Bible where a harlot is a prime example of how it’s so easy to look down on someone with an unflattering past.

It’s interesting that Jesus knew about this woman. And yet he didn’t look down on her. He probably didn’t even need to look at her, but could smell she was around. And that smell told everyone around her what type of woman she was. One whiff and you knew what she was.

It has been said that during this time some of the main users of perfume were sex workers. They used the smell to entice and make themselves known. It was like their form of advertising or calling card.

And perfume was not cheap.

Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I used to read this story of the woman pouring her perfume on Jesus like it was a simple of act of repentance. I thought the pouring of the perfume was an act to clean and wash Jesus since sandals didn’t keep their feet very clean. I thought she was being hospitable. I didn’t know. I didn’t see the true significance.

But my heart cringed when I discovered the true meaning.

This woman of the night had enough perfume to pay someone for an entire year. And she just dumped it out on Jesus. The emptying of her jar was no small offering. She was in essence handing Jesus her entire past of her scandalous ways…and her new, empty future. If she didn’t have that perfume, she didn’t have a way to earn her living in the sense she had earned it the night before.

She had handed Jesus over her reputation. Her career. Her livelihood. Her security.

By pouring out her alabaster jar, she was telling Jesus, “This is all I have. Please have all of me. I am forever yours.”

Her pouring of her alabaster jar was her act of total surrender.

We don’t know what she did next. What career she started. But since her past was so taboo, I’m fairly certain she was not welcomed with open arms as a receptionist or waitress. She knew the sacrifice she was making by pouring the perfume. And yet, she didn’t hold anything back.

She didn’t keep some back in case she needed to eat tomorrow. She didn’t have a secret stash she could raid if times got tough. She didn’t have any regrets in pouring it out for the world to see.

And as I was hearing this story in a new light, I immediately thought, we all have an alabaster jar.

It may not be filled with perfume, but maybe your alabaster jar is filled with your reputation? A proud heart of having to be seen.

Or maybe your jar is filled with a comfortable life? A comfort that causes you to play your life safe instead of following where you know Christ is calling.

Or a savings account? Funds where you rely on your own means and not God’s provisions.

Or maybe, your jar is filled with friends. Friends that are holding you back to being the person God is nudging you to be.

You may not be a prostitute, but we all have a jar. We all have a jar with something that would be incredibly hard to pour out at Jesus’ feet and tell him, “This is really important to me. And it’s really hard to let it go. But you are worth so much more.”

Sadly, I’m not sure I can pour out my jar. My jar that I have had for most of my life. My jar that I love. My jar that I have worked so hard to fill up. My jar that would be so hard to pour out at Jesus’ feet.

And as I sit here and write this…I feel like that naughty, horrible, treacherous, scandalous, sinful woman who poured her perfume on her Savior is actually…she’s actually the type of person I wish to be.

May we all pick up our jars and lay them down at Jesus’ feet. May we see that He is so much better than anything this world can ever give.

Peace

There is something beautiful and reassuring about Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I have been going through a period in my life where the plans I have haven’t come to be. Plans that I believed were good plans. Plans to give me hope and a future.

During these type of seasons it is easy to lose hope. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison where it seems like the grass is greener in someone else’s field. To look over the fence and only see potential of greater days ahead.

It’s easy to want to jump ship and paddle in a little canoe in a new direction.

But is that always the best idea?

Is running away the plan God has in mind?

It’s easy to focus on me. It’s human nature to look to oneself. What I’m missing. What I don’t have. What I think would make me happy.

But should our happiness rely on what I think will make us happy?

But we all have these holes that we try to fill. Many of the things we try to fill it with can be good things. A relationship. A job. A vacation. A raise. A new outfit.

And then we can try to fill that emptiness with other things not so good. A stiff drink. A needle or a smoke. A pair of long legs or big biceps. A spin of the wheel or a deck of cards.

We all fill our void with something.

Here’s the tough question: Whether good or bad, if you are seeking something other than God to fill that emptiness is that a form of idolatry?

If your joy relies on these things and not God, then that thing has become an idol.

Another verse I cling to in seasons of gaps is

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Even though life is not great. Even though the days are long and hard. Even though you are struggling to keep you head above water, I can still rejoice in the Lord.

I love the phrasing of “even though.”

Habakkuk wasn’t saying life is great. No, Habakkuk was pointing out the holes in life. He was pinpointing the gaps he saw. He wasn’t overlooking the dire situation with fake smiles. No, he flat out said things are bad. But once again, his joy wasn’t based on these temporary days.

His joy was on the eternal God who has promised to see us through our dark days.

You may feel like you’re wandering in the wilderness, but God sees the Jordan you’re about to cross.

You may feel like you’re in the belly of a whale, but God knows when you’ll be back on dry land.

You may feel like you’re waiting for a lost cause, but God knows when the seed will sprout and bloom.

I recently heard an interesting analogy by Max Lucado. The best silversmiths will beat and hammer their sheet of silver until they can see their reflection. What if God is allowing this beating and hammering in your life until He sees His reflection in you?

What if these hard and trying days have a purpose to refine you into the person God knows you can be?

A runner will never know how far he can run, until he runs until he can’t run anymore. The same for a weightlifter. They will never know how the max they can lift until they find the weight they can’t lift.

The same is in life. We will never discover our true, solid faith until we are pushed to the edge and discover our limit.

But that is the interesting thing. Our faith doesn’t rely on us. If we fully seek after God, we will never reach a time when we should say, “That’s too much, God. I can’t take anymore.”

Because if we acknowledge our faith and our joy is in Him, and if His grace and love is limitless, then our faith and joy should reciprocate with endless proportions into a never ending cycle.

Hard times lead to seeking God. Seeking God leads to Him bestowing His strength to us. We receive His strength causing us to strive more. Which once again leads us to times of trials when we should seek God.

Hard days will come. There is no invisibility cloak to shelter is from the storms that are around the corner. But if we learn to focus on Him and not ourselves, then we can overcome anything that comes our way.

Even though…even though…even though. God is still good.

I hope you can see the potential God sees in you in your dark days.

Peace