{Hidden}

Oftentimes, while I work on things with my hands, I think about God's word.  Recently, I pondered some things while finishing up an Etsy order (do you do that, too?).  My fingers can stitch away and my mind can wander...and dwell on God's truth...as well as how I can better apply His words.

The back of a hoop

This?  It looks like a jumbled mess.  Threads everywhere.  Knots.  Tangles.  Nonsensical.  Just like our lives.  Sometimes we can be a little bit "all over the place."  We let things get to us and we get "knotted up" inside, stubborn, even.  Sometimes, we get so tangled up in our sinful natures that we let it control our actions.  Many other times, life just plain doesn't make sense and we are left dumbfounded.  

Life is messy.  It's a tangled mess of daily trials, some within our control (and of our own doing), and some outside of our control.  It's the simple result of sin entering the world shortly after time began. Though we may try to fix what we can, our "bandaids" are only temporary.  

We try to put our "best selves" out there, but behind the scenes doesn't always (or usually) match with what we let others see.  We often only want others to see our good sides.  But that isn't real.  Each of us is imperfect in some way, differently from others.  In this "Perfectly Pinterest Age," we see what others want us to see...we can easily try measuring ourselves up to the standard that we have created from what we see.  The things we lack personally are good qualities in others.  But we have each been lovingly and uniquely handcrafted.  

And we have been offered the gift of redemption.  A new life.  A distinct purpose.  

Colossians 3:3

Society tells us to "put ourselves out there."  God's word tells us to deny ourselves and live for Christ.

Society tells us to "climb the corporate ladder" and that "bigger is better."  God's word tells us that He must increase, but we must decrease.

Society says, "put your best foot forward."  God's word tells us that no one is good.

Our striving is in vain when living our lives for ourselves.  But when we have been redeemed in Christ, everything changes.  Our aim is no longer to run the rate race, to strive for earthly perfection, or to store up "treasures on earth."  

Our purpose is to glorify God.  Our lives are now "hidden with Christ."  Our desire for what the world now sees from us shifts from our "best selves" to a life that is undeniably lived to glorify the Holy Creator.  We aim not to have people see us at all, but Christ.  He clothes us in our "new selves" that are purely to be a reflection of Him.  And our earthly trials also take on new meaning.  No longer are they just about "something outside of our own control," but how God desires to use them...in us, as well as for others.  It's definitely something we have been learning since having Camdyn...and ALL that it entailed for us then, AND now.  We no longer have to waffle between decisions to make the "right" one because our job is to take a backseat to our own motives and desires and let God's work flow through us...without being an obstacle to His good and perfect will.  

The hoop's front, messiness all covered.

He will cover us in redemption from the death of His Son and make something beautiful and perfect for His purpose...if we surrender our will to His.

Lord, please hide me so others have no choice but to see You.