Some days the body just aches. Today is one of those days. It's my own fault, really, as yesterday was such a beautiful, sunny day that I worked outside and overdid it. I'm already on my second cup of liquid sunshine (coffee) and have even put perfume on to remind me that even though my body aches today is the day that the Lord has made.
I will admit that I would rather have days like today than have days where the body might feel fine but there seems to be an ominous cloud over the soul. Something at a spiritual level doesn't seem right and I'm fighting to just move. We can read about it in the Psalms. For instance in Psalm 88 the writer says this, "For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol." or this, "I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow." To be sure there are times when we cannot make sense of our feelings. Oftentimes, feelings aren't a good judge of what is true.
Usually in a week's time there is ample opportunity to remember what Elizabeth Elliott said. That is, "Just do the next thing". Either I am reminding myself of it or telling it to someone else. This is especially helpful on those dark days where it is hard to move. But even today when my body aches I can do the next thing. And so I will.
What does perseverance look like? We are humans living in a fallen world. Most things don't work according to plan, our plan anyway. There are those who keep striving to get ahead in the world and there are others who have given up even trying. Where do we, as Christians, fit into this world understanding that we are citizens of another?
If we have been bought with a price and are to glorify God we must keep moving. The great and wonderful thing about this is "it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."(Philippians 2:13). I need to remember this and remind myself of it on the day that seems dark and without hope. Even today it is so good for me to know that it is God who will work in me so that I can work for Him. No big revelation here, just the simple truth of God's sustaining hand.
In the Disney movie "Finding Nemo" there is a fish called Dora. She has short term memory but sings this little song about "just keep swimming, swimming, swimming". No thought for tomorrow because she can't remember to think about it. She is happy in her memory loss as she swims day in and day out in the ocean. Whereas I don't think we can be mindless in our pursuit of God it would be a good thing to be so trusting that our cares would be minimal. Such is the struggle in our sanctification and will be until we see Jesus. But I can see and I want to be that one who keeps on keeping on. The current might be going the other way but as long as Christ gives me the strength to swim . . . . . . .
So, I'm off to do the next thing!
