On Why I Worship, Who I Live For, and the Savior Who Rescued My Soul

 

In the midst of your pain, in the midst of your darkness, in the midst of the terrifying paths in front of us that we call the future – you’re so radically and beautifully loved. May we never lose sight of that.

 

i.

 

I sit peacefully on the porch, one leg curled under me, guitar resting on the other. I feel the cool breeze of the evening in my hair, the summer mosquitoes swarming around my feet, and I unwind as my fingers dance up and down the familiar strings.

 

And in the stillness, the quiet, the only solitude I’ve had all day, one thing comes to my mind – Worship Him. The Savior.

 

So I do. I play and I sing for Him and Him alone, and I am reminded once again of the splendor of His grace, and how free I am to love and worship my Jesus with everything I am.

 

ii.

 

Some days, we just need to rest in His grace, to simply and wholly delight in His love for us. Because sometimes, the days are hard, the nights are short, and we’ve absolutely no idea where we’re headed. But one thing remains – and that’s the love of Jesus.

 

Every single day, from when we take our first breath in the morning until our eyes close and we’re overtaken by sleep at night, we must remember how loved we are, how treasured, how sacred, and holy, and righteous, and beloved we are in the sight of God.

 

Because accepting grace is so much more than saying a one-time sinner’s prayer. It’s a deep friendship with God, for every day of our lives, and saying yes to the adventure that He has planned, because He is the only thing that truly satisfies in this life.

 

iii.

 

It’s graduation season. At my own graduation this weekend, I had the opportunity to give a speech, and I did. In light of all the questions, such as “What are your plans for the fall, and what do you want to do with your life?” I took a deep breath and said the unpopular, yet honest truth – I don’t know yet.

 

I said, “I know that I am called to share the message of the hope and grace of God with the people He brings into my life, whether it’s through my writing or simply befriending people – and that my identity is secure and unshakable in the sacrifice that Christ made for me.”

 

Without hesitation, I continued, “And when I keep that in mind, I want every single thing I do to reflect that hope I have, my position as HOLY and RIGHTEOUS because of Jesus, His incredible salvation offered to me and the ENTIRE world – and I cannot imagine doing anything less with my life than serving Him for as long as I live.”

 

That’s what I want to do with my life.

 

This year, there’s going to be a lot of uncertainty, as I’ve known many other years to be full of as well. And as much as I’m a planner, my answer to the question of what the future holds for me is this: “I don’t know. But God does – and I trust Him.”

 

This is the grace-filled life – a life resting in Him, and who He has made us because of His Son.

 

By grace He has saved us, and by His grace He sustains us (1 Cor. 12:9) and strengthens us (2 Timothy 2:1). It is by grace that we can live in victory over sin (Romans 6:14), and that we can live effective and satisfying lives (1 Cor. 15:10).

 

This is why we rest in His grace and love – because on our own, we’re lost, we’re hopeless, and desperately insatiable. But with it – we’re free. We can have purpose, and joy, and hope, and contentment in this life because He is ultimately the only one that satisfies.

 

And so tonight, as I sit on my porch, I cannot help but praise the One that lifted me up out of my sin and gave me new life, the One who gave me a love I didn’t deserve and a grace to meet me in my darkness and call me into the light.

 

He is my everything. And for Him, I pen these words, mark down my chords, and I sing with the honesty of my soul.

 

iv.

 

I don’t know where I am going in this life –

but I know the One who does.

I don’t know the names of all the stars in the sky –

but I know the One who does.

 

I’m human, imperfect, and often so afraid

That maybe I’m just not enough.

Because on my own I am nothing –

But you call me Yours and Beloved.

 

Sometimes life’s too much for me to take –

But I know You’ll see me through.

When the pain cuts deep and I’m hurting with no break –

Oh, I know You’ll see me through.

 

I’m human, imperfect, and often so afraid

That maybe I’m just not enough.

Because on my own I am nothing –

But you call me Yours and Beloved.

 

You call me Yours and Beloved.