a surrendered life leads to genuine happiness
This season is the most liberating season of my life and I find the happiest version of me. They are right, once you meet your broken version, see dead ones, empty hand, and empty heart, you will learn to draw closer to God and experience His fullness.
I started practicing detachment from things that I thought necessary because when we faced adulthood, we want to measure up, we want to fulfill our ultimate dreams with our strength, we want to prove ourselves to the people who did terrible things to us, and we want to take even by succeeding. Wrong intentions and motives, thus I became so weary and disheartened.
As I gazed now at these papers- certificates that I tried to chase and cried so badly to get, not knowing after all those years of hard work, these are just merely papers, can be crippled and burned. And what matters the most are all the "life lessons" which remain inside.
I thought I know God very well, but this season changes my perspective of who really God is. I am so dumb, and foolish to complain to Him most of the time. I am so entitled to my life; my plans and dreams. Not realizing, He really never needs me, I need Him the most. I am selfish. A good friend and an adviser told me that "the deep cause of sin is selfishness." We are inherently selfish individuals, we want the best for ourselves, we deserve the best treatment, we want to be in control of our life, and we want to satisfy ourselves. Those are all good but at times it turn into selfish desires and lead to emptiness, pride, and arrogance.
When I surrendered everything to the LORD, like "suko na po ako, ikaw na po bahala." I stop trying to be and just take one day at a time, one step at a time. I realized His grace and love are more than enough each day, I really don't need to know whether I will succeed tomorrow because the present moment is a blessing. And I trust Him more because I love Him more now than before, like even if the things that I want to happen do not come, it's okay as long as He's with me. Like I don't want to achieve many things here on earth if it doesn't come from him and if it's not for Him.
And now I finally understand those people whom I met, enjoying their best life with the Lord because they live a surrendered life, people who love the Lord the most draw closer to Him the most, and experience different provisions and miracles, perfectly written stories because they allow Him to write with them.
If you will look at the life of Jesus, he lived a surrendered life. He never deserved those treatments, he was mistreated, mocked, betrayed, and crucified. He's the perfect example, the highest standard of how should we live here. Jesus' ways are so hard but because he loved the Father, he walked in obedience and surrendered everything to Him.
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,”he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Mark 14:35-36, NIV
We don't need to be crucified on the cross to show our obedience to God, He deals with us differently and individually, that's how magnificent He is. He's an all-knowing God, He knows what He is doing, and His power is beyond our imagination. He's in control and He holds the universe, we're just a speck in His hands.
Perhaps, you're a young professional like me trying to figure all these things out, finding answers, and feeling left behind and stuck. But during my quiet season, I realized I don't need answers, I can go along because He's with me and I am at peace with that because I love him now and I trust Him more. The key is just to go along, to experience His grace every day. Just abide in Him because, without Him, we're nothing and meaningless. Perhaps, He's just pruning us to be more useful in His field so we can bear much fruit in due season. Jesus is our vine so we don't need to worry.
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15: 1-4
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.15.NIV
These verses are comforting to my heart because knowing that I am connected with Him, as long as I remain in Him, I won't be moved and I will bear much fruit. Now remain in my love - who am I to be loved by the King of kings? I am sinful, I don't deserve this kind of love, this love always gives me peace that surpasses understanding, genuine happiness, remarkable joy, and endless hopes.
7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15: 7-9
All those people who surrendered their life to Jesus, never regret a thing. Jesus was crucified on the cross, buried, and resurrected so you may have life in Him. He can raise your dying hopes and give you eternal life, a free gift that no amount of money can buy. You just need to surrender your life, ask the forgiveness of your sins, and accept Jesus as your Savior. He never despised the cross, he surrendered his life too. He walked in obedience so we can do the same thing in a short amount of time living in this cruel world, life with Jesus is meaningful, and full of purpose. In Him, you will have a new life- a new heart, a victorious life, and genuine happiness once you choose a surrendered life.
And to the ones who're just weary, keep the faith and abide in Him. We'll get there too, we'll bear fruits in due season, in His time.
Good nighty ebribadiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Thankee for reading my journals.
He deserves our worship! Praise the Father, the Son, and the Spirit! Praise forever to the King of kings.
