S A L T
We are the main characters in our own stories. Much like the protagonists in the TV shows, movies, and books we enjoy, the focus is often on ourselves. Recently, I realized how dangerous this mindset can be. While our life experiences are uniquely ours, we are not just our own. Though, it can sometimes feel as though the growth we experience while walking with Christ is solely for our own advantage.
As I went about my day, I felt a sense of sadness. I had been waiting for God to reveal Himself in specific areas of my life, and on this particular day, it bothered me that I had not yet experienced Him in the way I had been hoping for recently. While driving to my destination, I noticed the word "SALT" in all caps on the back of a truck in front of me. This is the scripture that came to mind:
Matthew 5:13
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot”
In that moment, I instantly understood what God was trying to communicate to me. My days have been going pretty well, and my interactions with others have been positive. I had been sowing into others, by words and deeds, and in return, I felt refreshed by how God used me. However, I still experienced moments of sadness because the desires of my heart had not yet come to fruition. Internally, I was in pursuit of what I lacked physically, though externally I hadn't stepped out of God’s will for my life. I think this is a common struggle for many of us, as we often find ourselves desiring more from God. The issue isn't in having desires; rather, it lies in letting the process and timing of the manifestation of our desires control our emotions, actions, and reactions. If we trust in God, our faith in His plans for us should remain, just as He remains, no matter what we physically see and experience. The emotions we exude in the midst of delay is a direct indication of the level of our faith in God.
I have learned that sometimes the enemy doesn't need to take action against us, because our lack of faith is self-destructive, causing us to act and react based on our own understanding instead of God’s. Due to our limited understanding, our joy often begins to fade when we focus more on what God hasn’t done yet rather than on what He has done and is doing right now. A delay in the fulfillment of our heart's desires can breed doubt, ultimately distracting us from the significance of the present.
For our sake, God calls us to “BE STILL AND KNOW…,” which means to trust Him wholeheartedly, and in doing so we can rest assured knowing that delays are not denials, and therefore, shouldn't move us emotionally or physically, the same way the spirit of God should. This is why God encourages us to pursue Him, and in doing so, He will fulfill the desires of our hearts. As we pursue Him in body and soul, we will find it easy to experience His joy. When we focus more on our delayed desires than on God, we not only plow out of our personal harvest seasons, but we also fail to recognize what God is doing in and through us during our current seasons.
I was so consumed by my own struggles that I risked losing my saltiness, which would ultimately prevent me from seizing opportunities to be a blessing to others in the ways God expects of me.
I would be lying if I said that at times I don’t believe that, due to my lifestyle, what I pray for and believe in God for should be granted almost instantly. What I have recently learned is that, yes, God hears and blesses the righteous, but most importantly, He uses us to enact His will on earth. One of the ways we walk in His will is by being fruitful in our everyday interactions. It took me journeying towards becoming this version of myself for me to effectively do God’s work, which is to be a blessing to others.
The fruits accumulated within us, given by the Holy Spirit, are not solely for our own benefit, but for the upliftment of others we encounter. I believe that having these fruits brings us favor in the eyes of many, resulting in open doors and personal blessings. Additionally, I believe that the fruits of the Spirit help us assist others in ways that align with God's will for humanity. Therefore, while I hope for blessings in various forms, I must also acknowledge the many ways I have already been blessed. It is a blessing to be used by God to help others, and it is a privilege to be trusted by Him. In my moment of sadness, in seeing the word, “SALT”, I believe God was challenging me to share in the joy of others when He allows me to serve as their answered prayer. In the same way I’d praise God for my breakthrough, I should be praising God for being a key piece of another’s.
Scripture to reflect on:
Psalm 46:10:
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”
