The Gift of Abundant Life

We all want life. There's something within us that wants to succeed, to make an impact, to bear fruit.  We really do want to live, even though many times we may want to give up. Grief and pain disturb us, it's not what we were meant to experience.

God breathed into us His breath of life and life is what He still wants to give us.  He tells us in John 10:10 that we can have life abundantly. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly."

We have an enemy, a thief.  He comes only to steal the life away from us.  He wants to kill it within us.  He wants to destroy life, because when he does, he destroys and gets at God.  He takes something away from God and that is the gift of life.

What does this life look like in your mind?  Bearing fruit?  Being successful at something you enjoy?  Good relationships?

Winter will be following this season of autumn.  Is that life?

What really is life and on top of it, what is the abundant life?

The way of Jesus is a way of paradoxes.  To fully know one thing, we must experience another.  And something I'm starting to see over and over, is that, life isn't always visible.  Actually, I'm realizing, the truest of life happens within.

A tree, when stripped of all leaves, is left bare, naked and vulnerable, is still very much alive.  Winter is a season of rest from producing to replenish.  Roots go deeper in search of nourishment.  Life is happening within.

Just like the tree, we too, have seasons of what feels like we're being stripped, left bare, open, and vulnerable.  

In my own journey, I've come to realize that these seasons are for Jesus.  They are the space He wants us to go deeper with Him.

Have you stopped to wonder why?

We get mixed up a bit, off course in what life is or at least I so easily can gauge my life in what "I am producing".  It's easy to define our success and life with what we do.

These moments of being stripped, finding ourselves bare and vulnerable are moments of grace and an invitation back to the heart of God.

The life within is the truest life and the life He wants to give is deep within our souls.  For when the harsh winds and storms of life happen to us, sending us bending and careening, it's only His love that anchors us.

For me, in my deepest and darkest season, I learned to know God's love for me just as deeply.  Actually deeper, for His love is greater than darkness and hard. It is the abundant life.  It's one that cannot be contained and is not stopped in the face of adversity.  It enables one to see beyond and it is an anchor when the harsh winds blow.

It is knowing loss that we see what is truly important.  It is knowing rejection that kindness shines brighter.  You see, for me, I discovered that when I was stripped, then I discovered what was really of value, what is the most important thing.

And that is simply Jesus.  "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10.  His love is not hinged on me, doing good nor is it altered when I take a misstep.  His love doesn't change, it only changes me.  Deep within and abundant life takes root.

It's life that can't be taken away because it's not hinged on something that can be lost, but it's tied, anchored in Someone who is faithful, Jesus.

When His love grips us deeply, it grounds us, frees us, and gives us our voice.  Ephesians 3:17-19 (NASB) , "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God." (emphasis added)

In any season, in any joy or hard, let Him whisper His love, unconditional love, in your ear and let it go deep.  Search for Him.  He has told us that when we seek Him, we will find Him.  You may need to wait, but you will find Him. Lamentations 3:24, "The LORD is good to those who await Him, to the person who seeks Him."

And the life you find when you do, will transform you.  He may or may not change your storm, but He will change you.

Sometimes He calms the storm in your heart and other times, He will calm you, so that  you may know Him even deeper.

Friend, fellow-sojourner, I wish you Jesus.  For when you have Jesus, you have everything.