Exceedingly, Abundantly More {be savvy }
As artists, we are naturally dreamers. I’m constantly dreaming big things for my business, dreaming up my next shoot, who I’m going to marry, and the random boy I see at target will trigger me to plan my dream wedding right there in the cosmetics isle. Yeah I totally just admitted to that ;) Oh! and the list goes on. But sometimes we get stuck, and we can tend to fixate on the things that don’t matter where we get caught up in this fantasy-dream land that isn’t just unrealistic, but it can become our obsession. Soon enough, things like comparison, jealousy and discontentment start to creep in because we want to see our “final product” now instead of having joy in the journey. Oh big dreamer you, Please don’t stop dreaming. BUT I have something to tell you, the story is little but the message, at least for me, is so big.
A few months ago, I was in the middle of it all. I use the word all because I still don’t have a word for that particular trial. Truly, it was a place of those three horrible words I just listed above. Comparison, discontentment and jealousy had crept into my life and I was in a place of darkness where I was choosing to carry my own burdens, which is not how Jesus intends because, let’s face it, we can’t on our own. I literally got to the point where my burden was so heavy I couldn’t carry it anymore and even though I felt so hypocritical and unworthy, I somehow found myself setting besides an intern at my bible college. She asked me ” what do you need prayer for?” I just didn’t know because I was at a standstill and a crossroads and I was confused and hurt with myself. Friends, Those three horrible words I told you about can push you into such a dark and lonely place. But God. God does funny things, amazing things really. As I was being prayed over I was getting chills because I was praying “God, you know what I need to hear, please confirm these promises in my heart that I know are of you and cast out ALL fear with your perfect love.” and I started listing things off in my head I had been battling, and sure enough, right after another I was being prayed for, trial by trial and they were laid at the feet of Jesus.
You see, the burden is not for us to carry.
After an amen that I agreed to more than I have in a long time I was looked at in the eye and told ” Elizabeth, God has Exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ever dream and imagine for yourself.”
Why did this stop my in my tracks? Because I’m a dreamer, I’d like to think I am a big one, too. I have big goals and ideally, I have always had my life planned out just how I want it to.
Oh you know, its totally casual. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in a baby carriage… yadayadayada. Becoming some famous photographer was put somewhere in-between there.
Stop right now and think of your wildest dream. Now think about this, God has something so much more than that for you! Say what! Don’t we serve a good, good God? And if you’re not serving Him doesn’t the thought of that just make you want to drop what you’re doing right now and serve him? Living life for Jesus is so exhilarating because even though He is the same yesterday, today and forever, He has this magnificent novel that is your life and every day you get to read a new chapter.
Honestly, coming to this realization was absolutely life changing for me.I can’t help but think on Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.ALL things, all your works of art, your adventures, your trials, your relationships. He is using all of these things to knit together this masterpiece of a life in Christ for you!
I can say that I don’t know what tomorrow hold’s but I know the man who doesn’t just hold tomorrow, but He is waiting there for me. So today and everyday, I desire to lay not just my burdens, but my dreams too at the feet of jesus, giving him reign over all aspects of my life.
Know this dear dreamer, You can laugh without fear of the future (proverbs 31:25) The desires of your heart will come to you once you DELIGHT your self in Him (psalm 37:4) and His plans are NOT to harm you, but to prosper you, He plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). His word is full of little nuggets of truth that fulfill the promises He has bestowed on you as He was knitting you in your mothers womb. His ways are NOT our ways, but I am so thankful for that.
xoxo, Elizabeth Lauren
