Navigating Life's Challenges: A Journey of Reflection

And so this is a two-part series. This is my invitation to all of you this morning to join me as we embark on this transformative journey together. Last week, I shared on soul care, rediscovering the Jesus way. It's about the importance of tending to our souls in the business of life. Soul care is actually not a luxury. It's a necessity. [00:00:59] (26 seconds)


I think our deepest goal, it's probably more than I think, but our deepest goal in life is not about fame or fortune, nor is it about comfort or happiness. For the Christ follower, the apprentice of Jesus, our goal must be a deep relationship with Jesus, out of which all blessings flow and over the coming two weeks my invitation to you is to participate in this process that will help us review the past year as well as look forward to this coming year. [00:02:01] (33 seconds)


You'll be invited into a time of unfolding, a time where I hope that we will recognize that growth often comes through challenges and through setbacks. And I pray that you may grow in patience and compassion as we go through this process right just think of it just like a flower that unfolds gradually so too our spiritual growth is a process of unfolding a revealing of yourself perhaps this past year you felt like you were buried and you felt like you may have been forgotten a time of darkness or a time of dormancy where you may feel that you have become invisible but could it be that God has actually planted you into his fertile soil in readiness to grow and to bloom in all your vibrant colors. [00:08:10] (54 seconds)


And I'm speaking specifically to the men. I don't know the women's side of things, but for the men, this is my encouragement to you, that true courage is not found in the denial of our weaknesses, but in the honest acknowledgement of our weaknesses before God and the pursuit of not our strength, but God's strength. [00:10:07] (24 seconds)


Work in itself is not bad or evil. And the question is, does your work contribute to the common good and reflect a commitment to living a life of integrity? Colossians chapter 3 says, Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you are working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the master you are serving is Christ. [00:14:41] (27 seconds)


And if you have, how has it nourished your soul this past year? These are things you want to ask yourself as we reflect on this past year. And remember this, this is not a process of condemnation. So if you haven't read your Bible consistently over this last year, there's no condemnation from me. It's just a reminder to you because if we remember Romans 8, verse 1, it says there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [00:15:33] (31 seconds)


For some of you, perhaps you've committed this past year to issues of justice and compassion. Perhaps you've intentionally befriended the lost and the lonely, those on the margins of society, or it may be something that God has opened your eyes to. How have you responded to the needs of those around you? Have you advocated for justice and compassion in your community and in your world? How have you used your influence and resources to make a difference in the lives of others? [00:18:31] (34 seconds)


And here's what I want you to do as you review these six questions and there'll be four more next week. I want you to embrace your shadow side, right? Your imperfections or your limitations. And I want you to do that with compassion. I want you to recognize that we are all a work in progress, that God is always present to offer his grace and healing to us. And I want you to treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion that you would offer a beloved friend. [00:24:29] (37 seconds)


And let me just say to you, this is going to be hard work if you want to participate in this, right, of reflection and review. Some of you will love this. Honestly, some of you will love this. And some of you actually may just run from this because it's just too hard. But what we are doing is we are, is what we're doing here is actually we're trying to realign our soul, our being, our very essence, towards God by reviewing this past year. [00:26:19] (34 seconds)


Psalm 139, as I close up, Psalm 139 says this, Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life. I pray that this will be a prayer for us, to ask God to search my heart, to test me and know my thoughts, to point out anything that offends God. Why? Because God wants to lead us on this path of everlasting life. [00:25:37] (42 seconds)