Going Through The Motions

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

This has been on my heart for the past few days so I thought I would attempt to verbalize it here. Matthew West has an awesome song titled "The Motions." If you have not heard it I encourage you to do so before reading further.

I want to take some of those lyrics and apply them to our walk with God.

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

How often have we experienced that emptiness inside of us? That feeling that something is missing? We were created to be one with God. It is part of our DNA. Even if we are not Christians there is a longing within us knowing that we must change and find what we were created for. In all honesty Matthew West nails it on the head when he speaks of the "nothingness of life." Until we are tuned into God there will always be an emptiness in our lives. We know it, we feel it and until we make that jump we are not who we should be.

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

This is the verse that has really hit home since the beginning of February. I am a Christian but I must admit that the past four months have been really hard for me. Being laid off was not part of my plan. Those that know me know I "must be doing" in order to be happy. That is just how I am wired. Sitting home and just job hunting with no idea what the future would bring frustrated me to no end. I admit I lost my focus. My ministry is Compassion but I found it hard to even get excited about that. Believe me, I worked the ministry but it still felt empty. I felt incomplete without employment. I literally felt I was just going through the motions.

Fellow Christians assured me that God had a plan and things would happen as He would dictate. I knew that and I know people were praying. Still, it was hard waiting. I am now employed and yes God did have a plan and it was his timing all along. It was by His workings that I happened to find this job and it is exactly what I wanted to find. I look at this as a gift from Him and a new beginning for me. Which is why this song has been on my heart.

How often, even as Christians, do we just go through the motions? Why does it take an earthquake, a loss of a loved one or even an answered prayer to turn our hearts to where they should be? Why can't we wake every morning and pray "that we give everything"? God will always love us unconditionally but I can just see him looking down and saying "you could be/or doing so much more."

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

This is my prayer for myself and for you. Let God's love make you whole~Let your heart speak rather than your mind. Don't just go through the motions everyday. Find God's promise and make it yours. Turn His blessings outwards to others. Make a Difference!

Chuck is a Christian husband and father who has served in part-time ministry for 17 years, and is a deacon at his church. He has been a Compassion International Advocate/Area Coordinator for several years, finding families to sponsor Compassion children throughout the world. His passion is letting others know how important it is to release children from poverty. Be sure to check out his blog, Sharing Compassion.

Comments

[JasonS]

Wonderful post and great encouragement. We always know the Lord promises us a good ending, but trusting Him in the process can be so difficult. Thanks...