This is a phrase constantly stated. Things could be different if. If I had done this, the outcome wouldn’t be the same. This situation wouldn’t exist if. Whatever the “then” to your if is, we say it all the time. There is a heartbreaking reality I have seen in my life and in the life of other believers around me. Instead of joy, peace, love, and freedom abounding in our lives, strongholds are abounding! This is not the life God has promised us, fellow believers!
I sadly have allowed myself to be robbed of the joy and security that are found in Christ. I have searched for satisfaction and security in things that will unfailingly fail me. I see it in others, too. It’s craziness! We know that Christ is life. We know that Christ is security, joy, peace, all of these things which we are constantly in search of. But do we really know? Do we live as if we truly believe it?
I think the kicker for me was when I looked at Isaiah 48:18 today. As the rebellious Israel is spoken to, God says, “Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river; and your righteousness like the waves of the sea…” IF ONLY! IF ONLY they had submitted to the authority and commandments of God, it would result in PEACE like a river and RIGHTEOUSNESS like the waves of the sea! I want to share with you an excerpt from a Beth Moore book about this Scripture:
“Beloved, few bodies of water are more exciting than rivers! When was the last time you saw white-water rapids? We can have active, exciting lives without suffering through a life of turmoil? When God uses the analogy of a river, He described a peace that can be retained while life twists and turns and rolls over boulders.”
Isn’t that exciting?!? Why aren’t we doing it?!? I think for many it might be that we are trying to live a life in the present based on a relationship that we had with God in the past. Another little helpful tip from Beth…”A river is a body of fresh water fed by springs of tributary streams. Peace comes from an active, ongoing, and obedient relationship with Christ.” Man, I would love to sit down for coffee with that woman!
It reminds me of a fun song that I would sing with the girls as a camp counselor at Camp Garaywa.
“I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see (peek-a-boo)
Opens prison doors (use arms as opening doors)
Sets the captives free (I’m free!)
I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me!
Spring up a well (gush, gush, gush) up from my soul
Spring up a well (splish, splash) and make me who-oo-ole
Spring up a well (gooosh) and give to me
That life abundantly”
I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty ready to live life abundantly! God doesn’t desire us to be kept in bondage, to have strongholds. What are the strongholds in your life? What’s keeping you from the abundant life in Christ? What in your life are you striving after with all that you have? I’m here to tell you from experience, if it’s not under God’s authority, it will drain life not give it. It can never fully satisfy. Christ alone can fully and completely satisfy. Man, I’m ready to live in that truth! “If only…”
Shaped by Grace,
Jessica Hardy
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