And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Revelations 21:5

You don’t have to wait until you’re completely new.  To be you.

You don’t have to wait until you are free of doubt. In order to step into the light. To be seen.

You don’t have to try so hard. To understand everything.

These are the words I whispered to myself.

God’s calling us to a new way of living. He invites us to walk by faith.

When we hold onto Jesus’ hands, uncertainty isn’t something to be avoided, but a sure sign that we’re walking by faith — towards what our hearts really long to be.

Even if we may feel unsure or afraid, faith tells us we are actually pointed in the right direction.

A new way of living — as the beloved.

If we only walked the road we understood and could guarantee, we would never go where Jesus wants to take us. As the Beloved. His beloved.

We would be walking by sight instead.

It’s Okay

As I prepare to step out into some new beginnings, to dare to actually be God’s beloved, I find that I can go from inspired to discouraged easily.

Jesus always shows me just one next step. But, I become discouraged if I stop and try to figure out how things are going to end up — where one step today will lead.  That’s when a simple idea suddenly becomes overwrought with worry and then, those worries choke the joy out of the idea.

And I end up doing nothing at all.

Because when we actually step out to be who God’s created us to be, we become vulnerable to the critical voices that once kept us safe — but left us unchange. To avoid hurt or uncertainty.

But, I’m learning to follow Jesus with my heart. And because this is a new journey, it’s okay to feel insecure and doubt because it only means I’m living in a new way.

New Way

This new way of living as the Beloved may feel disorienting and even can cause us to feel anxious —

I don’t understand how.

I can’t do this.

This is too hard.

When I pray these private words, sometimes only silence echoes back.

So much is happening outside of my control. Panic can set in.  Panic happens when you fear life will change for the worse.

But, despair happens when you fear nothing will ever change.  When you feel — you — will never change.

And that’s how I can easily retreat back to my old ways of staying safe and not trying anything new — as the Beloved.

But, I don’t want to retreat anymore, friends.

As I pictured myself walking on the same long, dusty road I’ve walked all these years:  giving up on myself again,I whispered to Jesus —

I’ve come so far. I don’t want to give up. But, I don’t know what to do.

Jesus won’t leave us in the middle of our journeys.  

As I whisper this prayer, a scene from the Easter story emerged in my heart.

The Journey Back

Two friends were walking with their backs bent, their hearts broken, and their hopes for tomorrow dashed to pieces.

Their hope had died on a cross.

And now, they were walking back to where they journeyed so far. They were returning to life as they knew it. They had lost all hope life could be different. That they could change.

They were walking in the opposite direction of where they once found hope.

So much so that they did not recognize who was walking with them.

These two friends from Emmaus spent the whole journey back by talking about how everything was ruined, wrong and lost.

Meanwhile a quiet stranger they met on the road patiently listened to the whole story, from start to finish, in all it’s exhausting play-by-play detail.

He didn’t interrupt. He didn’t judge. He didn’t say, “What’s wrong with you? It’s me! Can’t you see?”

No, instead Jesus asked them questions. He wanted to hear more.

Oh? What happened?  Tell me more… 

Jesus was curious.  He wanted to hear all about their despair.

Listen. God’s Words To Us Today.

I heard Jesus tell me through this scene from the Easter story —

That silence you hear as you pour out your heart?

It’s me.  I’m listening. To you.

Walking with you.  Even as your heart’s running in the opposite direction of hope.

I’m with you.

I was so clouded by my anxiety, I couldn’t recognize Jesus’ presence.

Jesus is walking with me the same way He walked with two from Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 —

And they approached the village where they were going, He acted as though He were going farther.

But they urged Him, saying,
“Stay with us,
for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.“

 So He went in to stay with them. 

When He had reclined at the table with them,
He took the bread and breaking it,
He began giving it to them. 

Then their eyes were opened
and they recognized Him…

They said to one another,
‘Were not our hearts burning within us
while He was speaking to us on the road?”

Jesus broke bread with them, right in the midst of their place of retreat.

You Can Be New

Jesus is showing us what He showed to two friends from Emmaus thousands of years ago.

Jesus is showing us He is with us on the road.

Jesus is whispering to you and me —

 You can be new.

Hearts burning.  It’s the touch of God’s whisper on your heart and mine.

Our pounding heartbeats are resting against His strong and loving embrace.

I’m stepping out to be me. And so you can you too.

The Living Way

Putting off the old, putting on the new.

You and I can do both.

We can be happy, joy-filled, celebrating the resurrection of the new me Jesus is bringing back to life.

And in that same moment, we can also carry sorrow, imperfection and insecurity. Even despair.

Because both of the old and the new are found in His embrace.

Because in this journey of faith, both the old and the new are moving into the light.

It’s the living way.  This faith of real flesh and bone. Spirit and soul. In you and me.

Our #OneWordLent Prayer Today

Lord Jesus,

I don’t want to wait until I’m perfect to spread my wings.

I don’t want to wait until there is no more sorrow,
in order to celebrate the moments you want to give me joy.

Give me courage to walk as your beloved,
made new by you.

Help me to step out in a new way,
 to say yes to whatever you have for me today.
The real me. Loved by you. Today.
Amen.

All the moments you and I live in secret and out in the open is known.

Because you and I are loved completely. Unconditionally. Irrevocably.

Always. Again and again.

Let Easter is alive in you today. 

Let’s get up and do what our two friends from Emmaus did.

They headed back to Jerusalem.

Back to hope.  Back to new. To tell everyone what happened on their journey. To tell everyone how Jesus walked with them.

How they recognized Him. This time, they were changed. They were new.

It’s our time, friends. To do the same. To be walk as new people.

Beloved. Today.

~~~~~

Take a moment and reflect —

And He who sits on the throne said,
“Behold, I am making all things new.
Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Revelations 21:5

What one word speaks to your heart today?

How is Jesus calling you to step out and be new?

Pull up a chair.  Click to comment. We’re kindreds on this journey.

* Who can you share today’s encouragement with?

For more encouragement, get a copy of Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest.

~~~~~

 Special 7 Week Lent Series || The Journey
#OneWordCoffee Link Up
Soul Writing With Jesus —  Together

This new #OneWordCoffee Wednesday series inspires us to create space in a simple way, to be present, hear God’s whispers, to be refreshed & renewed. ?

Every Wednesday, I’ll invite you to stop, pause, & reflect on a One Word prompt.

Share how One Word speaks to you: 1. Simply post a comment (or) 2. Write a blog post, link up on Wednesdays. Visit the post before yours to comment and encourage. Please use the #OneWordCoffee badge in your post(click here) & link back (or) 3. Tag photos #OneWordCoffee on Facebook or Instagram inspired by your one word.

#OneWordCoffee ☕️ A simple invitation to create a new rhythm for your soul. To stop and hear God’s whispers. And swap some stories together.

Today’s 3/23/16 Writing Prompt: ** it’s our last #OneWordLent! It’s going to be Sunday Easter! Write about any word that speaks to you during Lent.  Optional prompt: living 

Next Wednesday’s 3/30/16 Writing Prompt: any word that speaks to you this week. Optional prompt: What new beginning is God inviting you to take?

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photo credit: kelly ishmael