New Beginnings

Have you ever felt so exhausted that you felt like you couldn't do anything? Or just doing small, simple things left you completely drained of energy?

I understand being exhausted. I was there earlier this year. I would wake up a few minutes before work, “go to work” (I work remotely), struggle not to fall asleep, and when I got off from work, I didn’t feel like doing anything but sleep. Sometimes I would actually fall asleep on the couch while my wife cooked supper. On the weekends, I would sleep in, I would take long naps, and still, I always felt like I just didn’t have the energy to do anything. Going to the grocery store, or any store really, left me utterly exhausted. I got to a point where I didn’t know what to do, but I knew one thing: I was tired of being tired.

I was tired of feeling like I couldn’t find/get the motivation to do anything. I knew something had to change, but I didn’t know how. At one point, my wife and I both prayed that God would show us a way, that He would reveal to us a path forward for me, for us, and for our family. The next morning, one of Myron Golden’s videos came across my YouTube feed. I watched it, I was intrigued, and I shared it with my wife. Then more of his videos kept showing up, and I kept watching them. Eventually, something “clicked”, something that has honestly changed my life.

I had been looking at the Bible COMPLETELY wrong. Growing up, I had been told the Bible is a book about religion, a book on “being a Christian”, or “being a good person,”….but none of those things are really what the Bible is. The Bible is a literal guide/handbook for our life. There are principles laid out within the Bible, ready for us to read and apply. We just have to search them out. And when God reveals those principles to us, it’s in our best interest to put them to use (into action). So I started reading my Bible differently with this new (to me) perspective.

Another thing that changed was what I was “filling my cup” (my mental space) with. I stopped watching tv shows and movies, and started watching and listening to Myron’s videos and sermons from other pastors. I was filling my cup with God’s word and His truth rather than things of this world. God is faithful and will never lead us astray. God is faithful to us and it is our job, our duty, to be faithful to Him and His calling.

Making these changes has made some drastic and real changes in my life. I’m seeking out God’s Kingdom, to truly make Him King of my life and set Him on my throne. I'm learning that some of the ideas I have been taught in church are not what the Bible actually says. For just one example, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God” doesn’t mean to read the Bible first thing in the morning (which is a good practice), but there’s SO MUCH MORE to it than that.

I’m telling you all of this because I know what it’s like to feel exhausted, and I want you to know, if you can have faith that God will carry you through, there is so much more good on the other side. Life is kind of like driving on an unknown road at night. When life throws you into curves, it can seem scary because you don’t know the road ahead. You can’t see fully/clearly what lies ahead. Don’t pump the brakes; keep on the gas and keep moving forward. You may not know what lies ahead, but God does. Let God be your GPS and give you directions.

What is God calling you to do? Will you have the faith to follow His turn-by-turn directions?