I Still Need Him...

I’m a Christian who didn’t wait until marriage.

I’m a Christian who has walked away from the church.

I’m a Christian who has struggled with anger, bitterness, and forgiveness.

I’m a Christian who has lied, lost her temper, said things she couldn’t take back, and hurt people she loves.

I’m a Christian who has put people, feelings, and worldly things before God.

I’m also a Christian who STILL battles sin.

I say this, because somewhere along the way, people got this idea that following Jesus means you suddenly become incapable of making a mess of things… and I hate to break it to you, but that’s not how sanctification works.

I didn’t come to Jesus because I had it all together. I came to Jesus because I was falling apart…

I have a past. Some of it isn’t pretty. Some of it I’m ashamed of. Some of it I wish I could go back and change.

Even after a surrendering my life to Christ, I’ve had moments when my flesh was louder than my faith… but I’m not going to dress up my testimony to make Christianity look more appealing to people who think Christians should be perfect.

I’m not going to pretend I’ve never fallen just because somebody might use my failures to question my salvation.

Because my testimony isn’t that I’ve lived a sinless life… My testimony is that Jesus met me right in the middle of my sin and loved me enough not to leave me there.

But DO NOT confuse that with me making excuses for sin.

Grace isn’t permission to keep living however I please. Grace is the very reason I get back up, repent, and keep allowing God to change the parts of me that still don’t look like Him.

Some days that growth is beautiful… Other days it’s ugly, humbling, and downright uncomfortable… but it’s growth.

I’m still being pruned. Still being convicted. Still learning to die to myself daily.

I would much rather sit at the feet of Jesus, fully aware of how desperately I need Him, than stand on some imaginary pedestal looking down on everybody whose sin happens to look different than mine.

THE GROUND IS LEVEL AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.

You won’t find perfection in me. You’ll find a woman who has been forgiven much, who still gets things wrong, and who is eternally grateful that God’s mercy didn’t run out when she messed up again.

Jesus didn’t come because we were righteous enough to deserve Him… He came because we were sinners who desperately needed a Savior.

I still need Him.

Every. Single. Day.

Author: Haley Brannon

Scripture: Psalm 40:8

Music: "Heaven Down Here"

The Fears That Drive Our Desire For Control

Fear can be a warning, but it was never meant to be our master. Yet when fear takes over, we often respond by trying to control everything around us.

We tell ourselves that if we can just anticipate every problem, prevent every disappointment and manage every outcome, we will finally feel safe. But the more we try to control, the more anxious we become.

Control is fear disguised as strength.

We may look capable, responsible, and prepared on the outside while carrying deep fears on the inside. The desire to control is often an attempt to protect ourselves from pain we do not believe we can handle.

But God does not ask us to carry the weight of every possible outcome. He invites us to trust Him with what we cannot control.

What Fears Are Driving Your Desire for Control?

The desire for control is usually connected to a deeper fear. What are you most afraid might happen if you stop managing every detail?

Consider these common fears: Rejection, abandonment, or not being loved.
Betrayal, mistrust, or manipulation.
Loss of people, possessions, identity, or peace.
Vulnerability and inadequacy.
Lack of control and helplessness.
Suffering, pain, and mortality.

Often, the deepest fear is not that something painful will happen. It’s that if something painful happens, we won’t be able to handle it.

That fear can cause us to overthink conversations, rehearse possible outcomes, avoid vulnerability, over function for others, or become consumed with making sure everything goes according to plan.

But our control is not a form of legitimate insurance against suffering. It’s a fake deal.

No amount of planning can guarantee that we will never be disappointed. No amount of preparation can prevent every loss. No amount of vigilance can ensure that the people we love will never hurt us.

The question is not whether we can control enough to avoid suffering. The question is whether we can trust God enough to meet us when suffering comes.

Meme: Tired and Overwhelmed?