Completely honest moment for you.
I’m sitting here, writing this post, and I can hear my coffee brewing.
But, you know what I am also doing? Stressing out about whether or not I should but UNSWEETENED almond milk in it.
You know the kind of milk that has about -20000 calories. And I am stressing about it because of the “Extra 10 calories.”
Clearly, I am still working on my food issues. Which you all know I have, since these Sunday reflections have been kindasorta ALL about them.
Anyway. That leads me into today’s post.
Sermon: “Why Do Our Stories Struggle?” By Pastor Orlando of City Bible Church Northsound.
What is was about: Pastor Orlando talked about how we are writing our own life stories but, a lot of the times, those stories struggle. We face hardships and trials and don’t know what to “write” next. He gave a few main reasons for why this happens.
- We write ourselves as the main character, when we really should just be a great, supporting role. Jesus needs to be the main character in our story, or it will always struggle.
- We struggle because sometimes we just don’t want enough. He didn’t mean that we should want a bigger house, nicer car etc, but that we don’t have as high aspirations for our lives as God does. We “just want to be happy” but God has so much more planned for us, that we aren’t aiming to achieve.
- Our stories struggle because we “want to skip scenes.” Usually the most important part of developing a good story is the hard stuff. The stuff that makes you grow and change. If an uncomfortable scene comes on in a movie and you fast forward, a lot of the times the movie doesn’t make sense. If we try to just peace out during the hard parts of our lives, our stories struggle.
My thoughts: I’ve talked about point 1 a lot here. I am really working to put God as the center of my life. Clearly, I still have work to do, but I can tell you that it’s getting easier.
I really loved his point on number two. I totally find myself getting caught up in “just wanting to be happy and free.” I mean, these are definitely good desires to have. But what if I am missing something? What if I am still struggling because there is more to getting through this struggle than just gaining happiness and freedom? I don’t really have any answers to all of those questions. But, they’re something I have been thinking about. And maybe God desires more out of life for you too? Great food for thought there.
I also loved his last point. SO many times I have thought “I wish I could just gain some weight, get healthier and just have no more food issues overnight.” But, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I wouldn’t have these issues without going through my eating disorder way back when, but I also wouldn’t have the faith that I do then (I really found Jesus in that time.) So, I am trying to be happier about going through this hard time (without telling myself it’s a good thing and I should keep it forever, of course.) and trying to change my mindset.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
P.s I had the almond milk. Because God writes my story and he would want me to have yummier coffee 😉
P. P. S We tried a church last week and LOVED it! A really young crowd and pastor with a great message! We are definitely going to go back and look into small groups there!
Happy Sunday!
Sue says
Loved this! Thank you
Taylor Kiser says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks Sue!
Matea says
I agree that we need to let go of the pen, so to speak, and let God write our stories. I like to feel ‘in control’ but am learning to trust that God really knows best and wants the best for me. Thanks for sharing this sermon! 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
I am so the same! I LOVE being in control, but totally need to give that to God 🙂 Happy Sunday Matea!
Julie @ Girl on the Move says
Glad you found a church you like! I know how difficult that can be…took me a couple of years to find a church when I lived in Philadelphia
Taylor Kiser says
Yes! It can definitely take awhile, so we feel blessed that we got it first time!
Sonja @ practical-stewardship.com says
So glad you found a good church! Fellowship is so important!!
Taylor Kiser says
YES! It’s so essential, so we are super excited! Thanks Sonja!
molly @ there goes molly rose says
Coffee isn’t coffee with a lil cream or milk, didntya know 🙂
Really liked Point #1 and want to focus on that this week! I tend to place myself as the center of everything- my problems, my successes, the person that stands out the most yadda yadda… but I am not the center of attention. I am not my own.
Thanks for sharing, as always.
Taylor Kiser says
Haha YES! I am slowly learning this coffee shenanigans 🙂
So glad that spoke to you, as it did me. I am so guilty of making myself the point, and need to work on that! Thanks for reading Molly!
molly @ there goes molly rose says
hahaha Taylor I definitely meant coffee isn’t coffee withOUT cream or milk. Straight black is nasty ass! 😉
Endora says
Hi Taylor!
I recently just discovered your blog with all your recipes, and I really appreciate your transparency in a post like this. Thanks for sharing! 🙂 I truly believe that God places trials and struggles in our lives for our spiritual growth. It’s meant to mature our faith. A pastor I know once compared faith to that of a muscle, how it needs resistance to grow and become stronger. Throughout the Bible, I think it’s very clear that God cares more about our holiness than our comfort or security here on earth. After all, our greatest joy cannot be found in anything material. What we need is Jesus, and we struggle because we weren’t meant to be dependent on ourselves, but on Him. I believe that God seeks our greatest joy and happiness, but this isn’t meant to be found apart from Him but only in Him and through Him. He offers Himself because He knows that’s our greatest need.
While it can sometimes be personally discouraging that there are some issues that I will be struggling with throughout all the stages in my life, I have hope that the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of me is slowly transforming me to become more like Christ. While I am constantly battling for my own glory and not God’s glory, I am assured that God is sanctifying me day by day (Philippians 1:6). And while this life is lifelong test of endurance, we’re meant to walk with other believers and to spur each other on. One of my favorite passages is Hebrews 11-12. I always feel encouraged and love reading about how our spiritual forefathers sought to trust in God. Life may be hard, but God is good. Going through trials should be expected (James 1:2-4), but we ought to know that it’s good for our spiritual growth. I mean, every time I do across a trial, I have to reflect back on God’s faithfulness and goodness in the past. And also remind myself that no matter what I go through, it can’t even compare to Jesus’ death on the cross so that we could have a relationship with God and be reconciled to Him.
So no matter what we’re dealing with, no matter what you and I are going through, we can surrender everything we have to Jesus, because he cares and loves us. Hebrews 4:15-16. Press on, sister! 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
Hi Endora!
WOW! Thank you SO SO much for taking the time to write SUCH a sweet comment! You really made my day! Everything in here is so true, and exactly what I needed to be reminded of. Really, I so so appreciate the time you put in here. These are all such great insights and verses – thank you!!
Endora says
Of course! Thanks for sharing. Your struggles are so relatable to me too. Hope you’ve had a good week and that God has been showing you how to trust in Him more. 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks so much Endora! 😀
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Great post Taylor! I really loved it. I have such a hard time just letting go. I am such a take control person that it’s hard to trust and just let Him write my story. Yet, who knows my story better than Him, our Creator? If I could only remember that! xoxo
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much for reading Kristi! I am glad it’s not just me who struggles with letting go!