You know how stores will sell products that are damaged in
some way at a discounted price? At first glance, you may not see anything wrong
with item, but the low price attracts you to it. Upon closer inspection, you notice the
sticker that says, “For Sale AS IS,” which generally means something is “wrong”
with it. It may be a minor defeat, such
as uneven stitching in a pair of pants that did not pass quality inspection at
the factory, or something major, like a missing part that causes the product
not to function as it was intended, but it is still usable in some aspect,
especially for the inexpensive price. I have purchased items “as is” before,
and I have passed up others that I felt were not worth the discount due to the
defect; however, when it comes to life, we often have no choice but to take it
“as is.”
We are currently
living in a very unsettled and divided society, often fueled by fear and a
certain controlled chaos, but we don’t have to allow this to unsettle us
personally and spiritually. I, and I
believe many others, have been a bit shocked at how personally the recent
presidential elections have affected those from both parties. In my opinion, neither candidate was an ideal
choice. For either one or even a third party option, we are taking them “as is”
and hoping for the best. I guess I was
surprised though by how many seem to be truly in fear of where the president
elect will lead our country. It has become so “doom and gloom.”
I often write
about fear in this blog, making the point of stressing to others that we should
not live in fear. I blog about this, not because I am so good at keeping my own
fears at bay, but because I have struggled with fear and control issues, and
from many of these issues, God has set me free, one by one, but recently I
realized I had begun to live in fear again.
This time, it’s a different issue, more a fear of commitment to my job,
a new church, and my continuing walk with God.
For the first 2 years after moving to WA, I was steadily looking and
applying for positions elsewhere, mostly overseas. The transition from overseas
back to stateside life was tough. (That’s why I stayed there 17 years and was
still very afraid to move back, even when we did.) I was unsettled. I was
afraid that I had made the wrong choice and drug my patient husband and son
with me. I have finally stopped trying to leave, but I have still not fully
committed myself to the community here either.
It’s become a bit of an introverted, debilitating fear for me. For
example, I’ll attend church, but quickly slip out before I have to talk to
anyone. Or I’ll go to the local and on base road races, but I am still hesitant
to join one of the running groups I made a New Year’s resolution last year to
join. I’ll put myself out there, but not
commit to anything long-term or that requires me to be accountable to
anyone.
So, even though I
still have some of my own fears to overcome as 2017 approaches, I am thankful
for my “life as is.” I’m hoping that by
sharing my fears, “the truth will set me free,” so to speak. Sometimes just saying what your fears are out
loud take the scare factor out of them. Let’s just say it then. We’ll all a bit
scared of where the country is headed, no matter who is in charge, right?!
We’ll all a bit scared to make major changes in our lives to new and unfamiliar
places with new and unfamiliar people and unknown experiences. What now? Well, I’m not in control. You’re
not in control. Not even President elect Trump is in control. God is in control, and that means, I
surrender my fears to Him, let go of my control issues (because I can’t control
everything anyway), and take life “as is,” believing that God knows what is
best and will provide as long as we trust and obey. I know, to many of you,
that probably sounds like blind faith that you simply can’t put your trust in,
but in these unsettled and chaotic times, would you rather live in “doom and
gloom” or try out a little faith in things unseen. After all, with God on my side, what can mere
mortals do to me! J
When
hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious
place.
The
Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
The
Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
It is
better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
It is
better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
Psalm
118: 5-9
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