Wheelchair
Holding the phone to my ear in shock, listening to the angry and disappointing words come from the mouth of someone I loved dearly. How was I to respond? My mouth wouldn't open to mutter a mumbling word, my thoughts seemed to be suspended above my head. I don't recall how the conversation ended, but apparently it did.
After hanging up the phone, I sat on the sofa dumbfounded, here I was a new Christian, excited about the opportunity to serve and share my new found relationship with God, with my family and friends, only to be looked upon as a fanatic, someone to be shunned, "one of those people." My friend had just told me that I used God as a crutch in order to not deal with "real," life. After a few days of pondering why my friend of many years had seemingly turned on me, I realized that her attack was not really about me but it was about our relationship as friends. We were tight, we grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same schools, cried with each other during our lows and celebrated with each other in our highs and here I was flipping the script on her, how dare me change on her! how dare me find a friend to replace her!
What I hadn't shared with my friend was that I was miserable, I didn't like myself, I didn't like my life, I felt trapped in everyone else's life, I felt like I existed only to please others. That burden was lifted when I put my life in the hands of Jesus. I had finally found me and I was truly happy with the person I was becoming and the relationship I was developing with Christ.
After several months of only talking sporadically with my friend, I called her one day just to see how she was doing. We had been friends for many years, I just wanted her to understand why I was so happy, but again she hit me with the, "using Jesus as a crutch," theme, but this time the words didn't sting, this time was different, I wasn't shocked by her words, I was ready and prepared to defend my relationship with God. I had been in much prayer about our friendship, my mind was transforming and I was determined to stay the course and fulfill the call of Christ on my life. As soon as the words came from her mouth, I chimed in with a respectful tone and added, "yes my friend I do use Jesus a s a crutch, because when I am stumbling through life, I need him to hold me up and help me along my way, and when there are days that I don't think I can take another step, He's my wheelchair. He makes sure I keep going, because I have a race to finish and I have come to realize, that I can't finish it with joy in my heart without His help.
I pray that you are blocking out all the tricks of the enemy (drugs, alcohol, etc.,) when you are in need of a crutch, a wheelchair or a place to rest during your transformation journey. Don't give up when you encounter stumbling blocks from outside or within. Jesus will be whatever you need him to be through your valley experiences and I am a living witness that He will also be your biggest cheerleader during your mountain top experiences.
Much Love
Melissa
After hanging up the phone, I sat on the sofa dumbfounded, here I was a new Christian, excited about the opportunity to serve and share my new found relationship with God, with my family and friends, only to be looked upon as a fanatic, someone to be shunned, "one of those people." My friend had just told me that I used God as a crutch in order to not deal with "real," life. After a few days of pondering why my friend of many years had seemingly turned on me, I realized that her attack was not really about me but it was about our relationship as friends. We were tight, we grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same schools, cried with each other during our lows and celebrated with each other in our highs and here I was flipping the script on her, how dare me change on her! how dare me find a friend to replace her!
What I hadn't shared with my friend was that I was miserable, I didn't like myself, I didn't like my life, I felt trapped in everyone else's life, I felt like I existed only to please others. That burden was lifted when I put my life in the hands of Jesus. I had finally found me and I was truly happy with the person I was becoming and the relationship I was developing with Christ.
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
After several months of only talking sporadically with my friend, I called her one day just to see how she was doing. We had been friends for many years, I just wanted her to understand why I was so happy, but again she hit me with the, "using Jesus as a crutch," theme, but this time the words didn't sting, this time was different, I wasn't shocked by her words, I was ready and prepared to defend my relationship with God. I had been in much prayer about our friendship, my mind was transforming and I was determined to stay the course and fulfill the call of Christ on my life. As soon as the words came from her mouth, I chimed in with a respectful tone and added, "yes my friend I do use Jesus a s a crutch, because when I am stumbling through life, I need him to hold me up and help me along my way, and when there are days that I don't think I can take another step, He's my wheelchair. He makes sure I keep going, because I have a race to finish and I have come to realize, that I can't finish it with joy in my heart without His help.
I pray that you are blocking out all the tricks of the enemy (drugs, alcohol, etc.,) when you are in need of a crutch, a wheelchair or a place to rest during your transformation journey. Don't give up when you encounter stumbling blocks from outside or within. Jesus will be whatever you need him to be through your valley experiences and I am a living witness that He will also be your biggest cheerleader during your mountain top experiences.
Much Love
Melissa
Well-expressed!
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