Trading Our Pieces for Peace

Before you read any further, soak in this sweet truth:

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

{Isaiah 46:4}

There is not a single moment where we are abandoned. In every circumstance, God is good, He is faithful, and He is there. So why, then, is there such a painful absence of peace in our lives?

Only until recently, I carried the bits and pieces of pain, heartache, and insecurities I've suffered over the past few years with me. As much as I've wanted to see them go, I've held on to them for dear life, believing the lie that those sufferings are my new identity. I've always been fully prepared to equip an unfamiliar face with the painful details of my past so that they can better understand why I am the way that I am, and, just maybe, give them a reason to run the other direction. I've built the walls around my heart so excruciatingly high, that only the truly devoted and curious may scale them for a peek into my closed off world.

And, oh my word, I wish I could put into words the pangs of bitter understanding I feel whenever I see a fellow human walking around with the same cloud of pain, fatigue, and broken pieces hanging over their heads. Have you ever just sat in a bookstore and watched as the people file in and out, going about their daily lives? Can you see the difference between the free and the oppressed? Are you able to read the circles underneath their eyes, and see that almost nonexistent plea for something more as they glance at you and quickly look away? If you look closely enough, you can nearly see their past riding upon their shoulders, whispering painful reminders of who they used to be.

Beloved, it doesn't have to be like that. I mean it. Just as we dump the change from our pockets onto the counters of convenience stores, we can dump our broken pieces at the foot of the cross. Maybe it's all we have. Maybe these pieces are our only possessions that give us any sense of feeling at all. That, honestly, is a notion that I think excites our Maker enough to make Him do a little jig. Why? Well, my dear, there is no easier way to fill up a person than when they are completely empty of themselves. Can you imagine the smile that takes over His face as you hand Him the keys to the dungeon you've kept your sad heart in? Even better, can you imagine those broken pieces being replaced with complete and utter peace?

Today, God has got me in a place of reckless abandon, and I can't help but share it with you all. The past experiences and current anxieties I used as the bricks in my wall that held my heart captive are being furiously destroyed by the love and faithfulness of my Groom. He has made me into a new creation, and I am not who I used to be. I have traded my broken and despaired pieces in for peace that transcends all understanding, and I encourage you to do the same.

"In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free."

{Psalm 118:5}

 

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

{Romans 8:1-2} 

You don't have to be weighed down by who you were, darling. Christ died to set us free from that fate. When you're ready to stop believing the lies, He's ready to set your heart free.


-Madison

Love Doesn't Play Games

Hello, precious. Let's cut right to the chase, shall we?

I want to talk about games.

I used to play lots and lots of games. They weren't very fun, but they were games, nonetheless. And whether or not I was competitive, there was just no way to win. I played games like:

"He loves me, he loves me not."
"Maybe he'll love me more if I..." (Feel free to substitute your own ending there.)
"He didn't really mean that, right?"
"I'm just being oversensitive."
"He says he really loves me, though."
"But he said that if I really love him, I'll..."

Are some of those sounding familiar to you? Even typing them out makes me physically cringe, because I know these are commonly played games. I feel like I am too often a frustrated on-looker sitting in the stands, watching as the game unfolds before my eyes; groaning as bad calls are made, and yelling at the players to get their heads on straight. Perhaps you've played a few of these in the past, or maybe you're playing one right now. I know too many darlings that can't quite seem to quit playing.

Why is that? Why do beautiful, lovely daughters of the King of kings sacrifice their dignity for a screwed up version of love? 

Love is consistent. You should not find yourself in the situation of heartache, simply because he can't seem to make up his mind about whether or not you're worth it. (Spoiler alert: you totally are.)

Love is not confusing. Believe me, if he truly wanted to pursue you and his heart was in the right place to do so, then he would man up and use every opportunity to show you just how treasured you are. Love will not make you doubt.

Sex will not make him love you more. It will only make him lust you more. If sex is the only reason he sticks around, he doesn't love you. Love is pure, and will not demand that you give up your virginity. Ever. 

Love is sacrificial. There is something about this world that really wants us to believe that everything should be centered around us, and I'm telling you right now that love cannot thrive on that concept. Love must involve sacrifice. If either one of you is stuck on the notion that the other must work to please you, so that you are simply taking and giving nothing in return, then it's time to go back to the drawing board and start from scratch, because it ain't workin'.

Love is sweet. It really is just so sweet. Your significant other should be sweet to you, and if they aren't, why are they your significant other? Love isn't mean and rude, sweetheart. It just isn't. You deserve more than biting words and sarcastic remarks. You deserve forehead kisses, and long hugs, and sweet nothings whispered into your ears as you blush from the butterflies that take flight inside of you.

Love doesn't give up. Ever. It does not give in, conform, or run. At the first sign of trouble, love stays. Do me a favor and forever disregard, "If you love them, let them go," because it is such a horrible example of the true nature of love. Love pursues and fights for what it wants. Jesus was murdered upon a tree for people that hate Him. We were all lost, and He didn't just decide to give up on us. I am pursued by my beloved Savior, whether I love Him or not. He fights for me and my life every second of every day, even when I am being an unfaithful bride. He goes before me in the presence of my enemies, even if I try to shove Him out of the way and say, "Thanks, but I got this."

 

Here's the thing. We find ourselves laying in our beds all day, anticipating that text or call, and making ourselves sick with heartache because we long ago pushed aside the truth that God is the most perfect example of love that exists. How can we even begin to understand passion and commitment, without first understanding the One who created it? We play these games that we won't ever win, all the while ignoring that, at that same moment we're wondering why he won't make up his mind, we are being pursued by Love, Himself. And Love does not play games.

 

So, why would you? 

 

 

Until next time,

Madison