A Turbulent Heart

Yesterday I had the opportunity to serve on the "Student Panel" for High Point University' Admissions event, Presidential Scholarship Weekend. One young man in the crowd asked me a question that in the past, I had routinely answered without pause. He stated, "What was the toughest for you about the transition from highschool to college?" In the past, I had immediately responded, "not having my family close by", "meeting a new group of friends", or "being in a new environment." Instead, yesterday, I responded differently. And I said something-that at the time- did not make sense to me. I woke up this morning wondering why I said it, and where it even came from.
"You know, I believe the most important aspect of the transition is having a contentment of knowing where you are-and understanding that you will be in this new environment for four years. Know where you are, and thrive in it for four years. "
I think it is very interesting how often the words we speak are the ones that WE need to hear-not our audience. I had never said anything like that before to someone when they asked about college life. I continually create a lack of contentment within me- and continually find myself anxious for the future.

This morning I was reading a chapter in one of my favorite books of the Bible, Isaiah 40. It discusses comfort for God's people, that is guaranteed when we are in the grasp of our Lord. I noticed multiple verses that mention a common theme...

"Make straight the desert a highway for our God" (v. 3)
" Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and the uneven ground shall become level" (v. 4)
"And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together" (v. 5)

Isn't it so true that often our hearts feel one of two ways- like we are in the desert-thirsting for something more to quench the overwhelming desire we have within us. Or, we feel as though our hearts are turbulent-filled with mountains and valleys (sometimes within a 24 hour period!) and laden with uneven ground.

Just as roads transform rocky, sandy, shaky desert ground to solid highways, and turbulent hearts become stable and level, our Lord will do a work within us in the same manner.

He is the steadier of our hearts, the One who smooths the terrain, and the One who calms the violent emotions that take place within us every day.  This is how he comforts us! Often, He doesn't comfort us simply by throwing joy at us-maybe he comforts us by the steadying of our hearts, and smoothing  the rocky nature of our emotions.

The mouth of the Lord has spoken to his people, and continues to speak into our hearts every day. 

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Philippians 4:11-12 

The Lord God Almighty-with strength and power that we cannot fathom takes the time to mold our hearts and steady them. How beautiful is the image of the Lord, that shaped us and formed us, continues to take the time every moment of every day to speak truth to our souls. He does not tire, he does not grow weary, even when his followers do. He does not lose heart when our Hearts lost focus, grow dry or grow turbulent. 

Allow your heart to be steadied by Him. It is His beautiful way of comforting us. 

Contentment is found in the understanding of permanence. Even though we will not be found permanently on this earth, we can stay content where we are because of the over-arching, permanent, steadiness found in Him. 

#nofilter

Instagram is a tricky thing. The hipster wannabe that I am is in love with the program. Suddenly, I can appear to be a professional photographer, snapping shots of the sunset, or even my meal. All of this off of a simple iPhone camera, and ta-da, there is a fantastic ego-boost awaits. The fact is though, the photo is still an amateur 5 megapixel shot, covered up with filters appearing to be something with depth.

My goodness how I love that word picture in relation to the Christian walk. How easy is it to cover ourselves up with "filters." Are we the hipster Christian, complete with oversized glasses, skinny jeans, and combat boots? I have nothing against this image...frankly, I secretly love it. But a problem arises when we attach ourselves to a trend of the world for any form of security. Do the logos on our shirts allow us to find a "niche"? Does our style place us in a select group of people where we find our identity?

This has been one of the greatest struggles for me attending a university founded under the Christian faith. There is certainly a mission field, yet I am SAFE carrying my bible on campus. I am SAFE attending bible study. I am SAFE putting a bible verse as my status. I feel safe as a Christian. I can place whichever filter on myself and always feel included and secure.

I have been convicted of just how foolish this is. Our savior strongly warns against finding security in this world. John 18:36 states, that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. If we declare that we believe in the saving power of Jesus, we cannot also live a dual life pleasing to the flesh. You see, two kingdoms cannot reign on earth at once. Jesus' Kingdom is eternal and is pure. The tainted earth cannot exist alongside the purity of our Heavenly Father.

Sometimes, filters do not make anything better, do they? The new trend of hashtagging  "#nofilter" has a sort of cache to it. Now, the original is more beautiful than any manipulation or conforming. Now that is refreshing. We need not gravitate towards a filter of this world. We were made exactly as God designed us, for His purposes, and for His glory.   We cannot place a label on ourselves and manipulate the original for acceptance, security, or popularity.

Why?  First, we were made exactly as we were for a very important reason, exactly as we are. No cosmetic surgery. No fashion sense makes you worthy. And second, gravitating towards the world's filters reveal that we are not happy with God's already perfect plan, or we believe the world has a better design for our lives. And this is where it is scary. The world is steeped in sin and is very ready to place a filter on you. The world does not want an original. The world wants the vulnerable.

We can choose to live imperfectly for a perfect God. Or, we can chose to "appear perfect" for an imperfect world. It is our choice. And, He is the answer.

John 15:19 
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.