Truth or Dare

Truth or Dare 

 

Life… doesn’t it require lots of trust?Through all the different challenges, celebrations, trials and joys. Decades that pass us by. Children coming and going… growing up, moving out. This is the season I’m in. It can bring feelings of uncertainty or instability that can lead to panic, worry or anxiety about what’s next. What does the next decade look like? What do I even like to do? Much of the last three decades of my life I have been a Mom along with being a wife. Honestly it is the one thing I have enjoyed most in my life. I am also a Dental Hygienist. These have been the space that the Lord has planted me to use the gifts and talents that He has given me to glorify him and be fruitful. Growing in grace and knowledge of his unchanging, unfailing love. Being led by and having experienced my God, who has loved me His way. With loving kindness and patience He has shown me the way of unconditional love, how to love without conditions by radically accepting myself and loving myself without judgement. Trusting in the One who created me, shaped me, formed me for his purpose and for his glory found in relationship with him. I believe this for myself and for my children. For their children and their children’s children. He is the God of generations, the God of all ages. It is in Him I put my trust. His Word, his presence and his people are a comfort and encouragement as I go through transition this season. Ushering in change has required my heart to hope in Him. In his unfailing love and promises to see me through each moment. Relying on him to show up in my day. Leading, guiding, correcting me as I go. Trust not panic, trust not worry, trust not fear, regardless of the opposition that comes. The crazy thing is as I go, as I pray, He does meet me right where I am. Bringing peace and comfort with whispers of his wisdom. Reminding me of truth found in Scripture. He is worthy of all my praise, of all my heart and all my devotion. He is with me in the very breath I breathe. So I can trust. 

Maybe you find yourself in a season of transition. Having to let go of what was to allow what will be. 

Does it sometimes feel like a game of truth or dare? Would we rather face the truth about how this change is affecting us or plow right through it ? Being honest with our emotions allows time to process with the Lord  and self evaluate where we stand so that we can move forward in the truth and plans God has for us and not get stuck or cling too tightly to what was or what we feel should be. Or…dare ourselves to do something bold, or brave. I choose both this season.

 Embracing imperfection, because perfection is not a worthy goal. Progress is. It is only in weakness do we know his grace that brings strength. On my worst days and on my best days, whether I perform well or not, or behave well or not, his love for me is just the same. The truth is, his love is unfailing and unconditional. A love without conditions. This has been the hardest and yet the greatest truth to believe. What is even more true is He longs for my heart to feel home with him. To run to him in my struggles and imperfections, not to fix them but to give me the grace to understand myself better so that I can grow in an even deeper acceptance of myself. In that, maturity comes. The unconditional love that I have dared to believe has not fixed me but rather sets me free to live untethered to what I think and feel in and of myself. Where circumstances may have me chained up or burdened by, this grace meets me right where I am to show me a way through that will lead to healing, well being, soundness of mind and encourage my heart. It’s living in this truth, moment by moment, accepting the dare to believe this reality. 

This season, this world, can shake me sometimes. It will, if I’m not careful get me off track of the one thing that has always been true. His Word. Living by it. It is a lamp for my feet to walk my path. It is comfort to my heart when it fails me or when I need strength to get through a day. His Word brings health, healing, wholeness to all the broken areas in my mind, body, and soul. So I dare myself to believe in his truth that is found in his Word this season. As things around me are changing, shifting, I fix my thoughts on the One who never changes. He is the same God that loved me then and had a plan for me. He is the same God that loves me now and will lead me into new beginnings. He is the same God who will carry me into an unknown future. This truth helps me trust. This truth centers my heart and mind because I know the One who is faithful and kind and has always cared for me, provided for me. I know because I’m still here. I know because it takes faith to believe this, and it is faith that pleases God. I know because I’m still  breathing and when the breath in my lungs is no more, He will still be the same God bringing me to life with him for eternity. 

I know that I know that I know He’s a good Father and from him comes new beginnings. Every good and perfect gift is from the father above. His greatest gift to us is his Spirit living on the inside of us, guiding us, protecting us as we go forward on this journey together, helping one another with the help we have received. Comforting each other with the comfort we have received. Loving each other with the love we have received, forgiving one another with the forgiveness we have received. 

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly all we could ever ask or imagine according to his power that is in us! Ephesians 3:20. 

With you and love you! 

Blessings!

Tracey Hanko.