Leave It There

It’s a busy life we lead. Sometimes I have random thoughts run through my mind. Okay, it happens more than sometimes.

I can’t seem to write about only one thing.

I also want to state for the record that nothing I write here or elsewhere is something that I’m dogmatic about. I do believe strongly about some things, but I won’t write about them here. Sometimes I write about something I’m thinking about, but I might change my mind about it within the next couple of days. I’ll never try to start religious debates. I’d probably delete such a thing if it were to occur. I’ll never engage in political arguments. I won’t ever argue on social media defending a position. It isn’t the place for it.

I’ve heard a hymn for many years titled “Leave It There.” In the hymnbook, part of the chorus says, “If you trust and never doubt, God will surely bring you out. Take your burden to the Lord, and leave it there.”

A few years ago, I heard a version by Rory + Joey that says, “If you trust Him through your doubt, He will surely bring out. Take your burdens to the Lord, and leave them there.”

Well, I can’t say I’m in the crowd that falls in the category of the first version of the song. I’ve doubted.

Not whether or not God exists, but whether or not He has a plan for me.

I’ve doubted that He could use me. I’ve doubted that He would want anything to do with me, not because of any preaching or teaching that I’ve heard, but because I truly care and want to do what is right. I’ve heard all my life that God loves me and cares about me and has a plan for me.

I wholeheartedly believe that the devil doesn’t care whether or not you know God exists.
But if he can get you can doubt that God cares or that He doesn’t want you, or that you are beyond hope, then you won’t try to draw nearer to Him.

If he can convince you that there’s no possible way that you can do what’s right, then you’ll give up.

So I’ve doubted a few things in my life. However, I fully trust God. I’ve trusted Him THROUGH my every doubt. And so far, so good.

Sometimes I still doubt about the next step I’m supposed to take. Walking by faith is hard to do. But trusting an unknown future to the God I know well makes it much easier to walk by faith.

Now, I don’t know if this is related at all. We have three young children, and I don’t have time to figure it out. I can’t say that I care to, if I’m honest.

But I read something recently that said, “Hatred erodes the container that it’s carried in.”

So these two thoughts are bumping around in my noggin tonight.

If we carry around hatred and bitterness and have a critical spirit about everything, how can we expect to have a good life? How can we expect to enjoy anything? The only people we hurt by our bitterness and hatred are ourselves.

Has your life turned out the way you planned? No? Well, what if I told you that God isn’t surprised by the path your life has taken?

Everything you have gone through is everything you need to help someone else.

Don’t harbor hate and bitterness. Don’t doubt that God can still use you to help someone.

leave it there,
– Caleb