The Filling

God calls us out of mediocrity to live more purposed, more devoted, more destined. He whispers to us to rise above the hum drum of ordinary living to go deeper with him.

Deeper into love

       Deeper into to mercy

              Deeper into forgiveness

                      Deeper into selflessness

As we step off that ledge of the known, as we let go, as we trust and relinquish, we push past the weight of this world and all her hardened, vain glorious opinions. And in that place of letting go and unwinding, in that place of holy surrender, in going deeper, the grip of this world falls away, her clutch lessens, her ties unfurl, no longer are we slave, but free.

Deeper into love

       Deeper into to mercy

              Deeper into forgiveness

                      Deeper into selflessness

But going deeper costs, living unbound has a price. It is a journey into the wilderness. This crossing into the wide open expanse of letting go, of less self, will test every inch of you. The letting go of everything you know, the letting go of rising dreams, the letting go of everything that made sense, the letting go of purpose, is scary - because trusting God in the letting go, in the laying down to traipse the depth of a valley, feels emptying. It feels less, not more.

Deeper into love

       Deeper into to mercy

              Deeper into forgiveness

                      Deeper into selflessness

Walking through the rough terrain of the valley is lonely for when the testing comes, the trial can come hot - fiery, piercing and gut wrenching. The fire in this crepuscular landscape will try to consume you. But it is in this place of heartache and despair, that being empty is needful. In the emptying, in the purging of the fire, when a life is spent and everything the world offers has finally fluttered away, one human - blood bought life still remains, but for the grace of God. For without HIM, I have nothing, I am nothing.

Deeper into love

       Deeper into to mercy

              Deeper into forgiveness

                      Deeper into selflessness

It is in this act of laying self down, of setting dreams adrift, of releasing deeply encumbered burdens to heave them at the foot of the cross, that the passage to purpose is paid in full. A soothing wind seeps in, a holy exchange takes place and the filling comes. A filling of grace beyond this world finds its way through the loss, on through the heartache and past the pain. A filling that is only possible, because the fiery emptying prepared the way.

For my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.