The death of what is supposed to be is a special kind of grief. A dream is an unrealized target, but when ordinary dies, even the mundane is a struggle. Life is great, it’s just not the one I thought I’d live. I stood bewildered when normal was ripped from my hands. This isn’t how life is supposed to be, but with palms upward, I am standing strong.
How did I get here?
It’s hard to wrap my mind around this life-altering season, but not for lack of effort. The truth is I’ve wrapped and wrapped my mind like a tourniquet wound too tight. Thinking the same thoughts, remembering the same hurts and rehearsing new solutions nearly cut off the blood supply to my soul. Dwelling on what should be is dwelling with the enemy.
“Whatever it is in your life that didn’t go the way you thought is should, the enemy desires to make you dwell there. He wants to drag you to the depths of despair and make you take up permanent residence. If you’ve ever conquered that broken dream and moved on, he waits for just the right time to rake you over the coals again and cause you to desire that dream that may never come to fruition. OUR DREAMS HOLD THE POWER TO CONTROL US.”
Dwelling on what should be is dwelling with the enemy #AnchoredIn Click To Tweet
Letting go
I’ve chased dreams and caught them, only to watch them disintegrate in my hands. It’s time to let go; to be okay even if things don’t turn out okay. And I am okay, most of the time. Rather than waiting for suffering to pass, I’m learning to live in its depths, because that’s where Jesus is. And He says it’s worth it.
1 Peter 1:6, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” NLT
Holding on
Letting go of my normal means holding on to the anchor of my soul. Only God holds the power to deliver me from how I thought life was supposed to be.
The anchor to a ski boat is stored in a compartment on the bow. We drop it on calm days so we don’t drift into brush near the shore. When the waves are rough, we are tethered tight so we don’t crash. As waves rock the boat, the rope from the eye on the bow to the unseen anchor on the muddy bottom pulls taut and without it we would be somewhere we didn’t want to be. Somewhere dangerous.
Acts 27:13, “When a gentle southerly breeze came up, they weighed the anchor, thinking it would be smooth sailing. But..it was a cork in the storm.” MSG
This isn’t how life is supposed to be
While waves threaten to capsize your life, you am secure when you are tethered to the anchor of your soul – Jesus. His words are stored in the Book. Truths from God’s word keep you from drifting when waters are calm and from drowning in this storm.
Hebrews 6:19, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure,.” NIV
Do you need an anchor? Do you need hope?
Micah Maddox mailed me a copy of “Anchored In” in a bright pink envelope. When I opened it, I had no idea how it would touch the raw, tender places of my heart. If you’ve been hurt, if your dreams didn’t come true or life didn’t turn out the way it’s supposed to, I recommend reading this non-nonsense book with vivid truths and practical advice.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the author and her power-full book for your problem-filled life
Oh Vickie, for about 10yrs I hoped for the desire and dream of my heart to come true. Then spent the next 20yrs feeling shame that it didn’t work out the way I thought it should.
It’s has only been on the last few years that I have surrendered it all to the Lord….peace at last.
Yes. True peace comes from surrender.
I’ve found that the older I get, the more I think about what I haven’t accomplished, but the Lord is dealing with me in that He doesn’t measure our successes the way we do. So I’ve been praying for acceptance and contentment this year, and your post is timely. I’ll look for that book.