–Originally posted August 9, 2016–
If you had asked me in April or May what I thought this summer would have looked like, I would have told you that it would have been greener grasses. That this was going to be the summer of grand adventures of the heart and mind, that this summer was going to be one to look back on with great delight because of the memories made and the experiences had. I was pretty sure that this summer was going to be the one where I had the greener grasses for once.
…Well, this summer has not turned out the way I had expected at all. And I found myself, just this morning, looking at some of the pictures and posts in my newsfeed and I caught myself envying their grasses. Beach posts, engagements, vacations, sunny days, weddings, happy smiles, new babies…
But then I had an epiphany. What if I tried to look at my own Instagram feed from a third-person perspective? Do my grasses look as green as my friends’? So I did.
And as I looked at those photos, I realized I have had a greener grasses summer. I made silly and fun memories with my niece and nephews. I got a new nephew. I got a ridiculously good tan. I got to go to five Blue Jays games. I went on a canoe trip with some great camp people. I got to spend time at a cottage, in a hammock, reading a good book. I got to spend a good amount of time with girls I adore. I started rowing again.
…And even deeper and more importantly, I realized this summer has been a grand adventure. It has been one where I will look back with great delight. You know why? Because the greatest thing about this summer is that I’ve fallen more in love with Christ. I am more confident in the goodness of God to me than I was last year. I am sure of His faithfulness to me. I am more aware of the daily struggle and daily victories of leaning into Christ. I am more wholehearted about saying, “I’d rather have Jesus than anything else.”
If I go back through the journals from the last two or three years, this has been my prayer: Lord, help me love you more. Help me see your goodness. …And though He has had to slay me to bring me to this place, the pain has been and will continue to be worth it. Does this make the journey uphill any easier? Well, no. Not on a surface level. The days still move slowly. Each step is work. But deep down, I have hope. Hope that with my feet planted on the Rock that is higher than I, He is leading me somewhere good. Somewhere I will delight in His mercy and goodness. Somewhere I can say with even more assurance, Jesus is enough.
I don’t know what your summer has looked like or what will happen in the coming weeks. You could be having the greatest summer of your life, or you could be about to face a very difficult tragedy. But, in the end, if your feet are planted on the Rock, your greener grasses are actually found in Christ, not in the storm or sun around you. Be encouraged, friend. Jesus really is enough.
What you’ll find here is a collection of musings, thoughts, writings, and ramblings about things I’m reading, watching, and thinking about. It’s my goal to inspire, encourage, and instruct my fellow sisters in their walk with Jesus and their understanding of the Word.
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