We all carry it. Sometimes as a heavy burden on our back or sometimes clinched between our fingers. It’s at the forefront of our thought’s & it grows in our dreams. It’s reflected in our conversations and revealed in our spending. “It” is our picture-perfect idealized version of how life should look versus the often broken version of life we are currently experiencing.

But that isn't anything new, the world is broken and as our hearts long for completion we need the reminder that completion isn't found in our ideal but in God's real. And on top of that the more we cling to our own ideals the more we risk missing out on something “better” God has for us. You can’t grab onto what God has for you, if your hands are full of what you have for you…

I remember having a conversation with one of my managers. He commanded my attention and said, "Chad, you need to break up with your idealized version of life. The world isn’t perfect." I agreed, thinking, “I know, I know…” But to be honest, I didn’t want to not get my way. It's hard, ya know? To say no to yourself.

Saying “no” to ourselves in the little things can be hard like passing on a new clothing item or skipping dessert. But turning away from long-held dreams? That’s a whole different story. & speaking of stories, our story, or our life, isn’t about us. Our own personal wish list, or our relationship status/family life, or our bank account or whatever else; no matter how noble or altruistic our idealized version of life may be, that doesn’t justify us forcing our will on God and pitching a hissy fit or tapping our feet while we wait.

God’s “real” is so much greater than our “ideal.” So, whether it’s in the day-to-day moments or the big-picture dreams, remember this: break up with your idealized version of life before it breaks you. Hold your dreams loosely, allowing God’s plan to fill the spaces where you once clung to your own. Because sometimes, if you have something, even a dream or a goal, and you can’t let it go, you don’t have it, it has you.

I guess just consider this a public service announcement because we truly want what God has for us over what we have for ourselves. As hard as that even is to type, that doesn’t make it less true or mean shouldn’t esteem what God is doing even if it means we won’t get our way.

Thank you for being a member of the Sunday Send! We love you & remember… you are God’s masterpiece!