Have you ever been in a place in your life with great tension? You know the promises of God and you see the vision and the future. But from where you are right now, there is no way to get there.
I spent over a year living like that. Sometimes it was easy, because I could do little things here and there. But sometimes it was really hard and I felt stuck. I even found myself getting discouraged and angry with God at times, for not moving me forward. I was, after all, doing all He asked of me. Then, one day God gave me a revelation about living in tension.
Dreams from God
The fact that we have dreams that we can’t get to on our own, is a good thing. That means it’s a dream from God. If we could do something on our own, we wouldn’t need God, and that’s not His desire. More than anything, He wants to live in fellowship with us.
The dreams and promises from God are good. He reveals them to us, to give us hope and vision for the future, for who we are, and what we are called to do. We should see the vision. Hold on to it. Proclaim it. Have faith for it. But what we shouldn’t do, is allow it to steal the peace we have for today.
Tension
Tension happens when we feel the pull of the future, but feel stuck in the present.
Sometimes we need to feel that tension, because it’s good to know this is going on. We are being stretched. But if our focus is more on the future than on today, the tension can become overwhelming. It can bring sadness, depression and loss of vision for today. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” (Pro. 13:12) So we need to focus on finding joy today.
What is true today?
There are certain things God has called us to do every day of our lives. Things that will be true today and when we get to our future. The future promises can often seem rosy. But there will be other struggles when we get there. To love God and receive His love every day, will always be true. To love, help and serve the people He places in our lives, no matter who they are, will always be true as well.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matt. 22:37
I am called to love the Lord with all I am today, and I will still be called to do that, no matter where my future might take me. Up or down, challenging or easy.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matt. 22:39
The same is true about loving others. I will always be called to love the person God puts in front of me. Today, as well as tomorrow.
As we learn and grow in these eternal truths, it actually ties in with our future as well. The more I learn to love people today, the more I will be able to contain later. God knows exactly where I need to be, to live in the future He has shown me. There is a reason I am not there yet.
Focus for today
In times of tension I focus on five things, to find the joy today:
1. Focus on loving Him.
And being loved by Him.
2. Focus on living in peace.
Having peace on the inside is also a call for every day. I can choose to hold on to peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Joh 14:27)
3. Focus on being grateful for what I have today.
4. Knowing this is just a season.
Not every season will be like this.
5. Understanding this season can be intense.
Being kind to myself and others. Putting less pressure on myself.
