Breaking Through

There is a theme that seems to be pursuing me. It is uncomfortable, but entirely necessary. I wake up sensing it, walk through my day pursuing it, go to bed at night thinking about it. It’s a hunger for growth, for a deeper understanding. Yes, I am fully aware that there is more to come and my heart longs to take hold of it.

Perhaps you have felt it, too? That peculiar sense of the just-not-there-yet. A particular itch that can’t quite find the sweet spot of relief? I’m with you, friends. I believe we each possess a beating heart that longs to break out of this ordinary life.

It beats within the heart-prayers of gathering friends, those fellow chasers of His goodness. We share this great desire together…the hunger to break through into who we are created to be, and the exquisite sensation that we have much to shed on this journey. Fully aware that we are not there yet, we share in a holy craving for higher ground. We feel tethered to this earth, yet hopelessly long for something grander, better, bigger, higher than where we find our own feet.

Instinctively, we, who are alive in Christ, posture ourselves with open hands because we fully know our Savior is in the business of redeeming and restoring, healing and rebuilding our brokenness. We feel there is more to come. We know we have not fully arrived yet. We are fully convinced He is still moving, still investing in us, building something beautiful in the midst of all the breaking.

Because breaking through is what He does.

Yes, we come continually, hands and hearts open, because we know He is continually making all things new. Even us. Even me. Even you. He is working in us a reality that is and isn’t yet. He declares over us who we are and then goes about making it so.

For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 10:14 (NIV)

“Has made perfect forever” – Jesus said, “It is finished” and He sealed our inheritance and standing alongside His beautiful perfection and transferred it to us.

Read that sentence again. Slowly. Deliberately.

He sealed our inheritance and standing alongside His beautiful perfection and transferred it to us.

Hallelujah! Now, if that isn’t “arriving,” I don’t know what is!

Yet…the process of breaking through to this incredible truth about ourselves is a hope that we are still taking hold of. Deep in our bones, our very souls, we feel it. We are just not there yet…but we hope to be soon. The miraculous transformation of “being made holy” that you and I are still walking out in this life is real and He promises to work in us this grand purpose until that, too, is declared finished.

You and I are keenly aware that there is work still yet to do, not in our identity, but in our reflection. We are “being made” holy. As we crave more, we are being transformed. And as we are being transformed, we are beginning to look more and more like Him.

I love how the Message Bible translates these verses…

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are…

And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.

1 John 3:1-3 (MSG)

What a wonderful beauty there is in breaking through ourselves into who we are meant to be in Him. We are created in the image of God and yet we are acutely aware as we look in the mirror that there is a “Yes, but not yet.” He is pursuing our hearts, our very souls. We have felt His love restoring us, but we are fully aware that there is more work to be done.

So, if you are reading this today and feel stuck, I promise you He is breaking through to a new ground. He is working in you the process of being holy. Setting you apart for His good plans and purposes. That’s what He does. It’s what He has always done.

Jesus was always interested in where people were stuck (in their sickness, in their sin, and in their unbelief) and He always gave them an opportunity to move. He loves you so much, friend, that He will never leave you where you aren’t supposed to stay.

That push against being stuck is actually a nudge from Him. Don’t worry…He’s got you covered (literally and figuratively) and He is moving your image (your life, your story) to reflect Him. Little by little He nudges and prods. He will not quit until your reflection matches His. He is relentless in His pursuit of your heart, beloved.

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:4

Mature and complete…not lacking anything. Sounds like arriving to me. ????

Today I want to share the song, Breakthrough, from Chris McClarney. To be honest, his whole album is pretty awesome. Be blessed.

With joy for the journey,

Sarah