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Quiet Time
by Kasia Kedzia
In passing someone recently said that life is filled with endings. The truth of this statement brought me into a state of sadness. There have been so many endings in my life and one approaches as I am down to my last month in Sudan. Most of the time when I think of endings they are not happy memories. Yet the more I thought of this the more I began to see how necessary endings are and when thought of from a spiritual perspective, I really began to see their necessity. All adventures have to come to an end; to learn from them I must let chapters end in order for new ones to begin.
1Cor1:9 (The Message) God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
I have had moments where I have delayed finishing books because I was not ready for the story to end. On the other hand, I have read books or seen movies that seemed to just go on way past the end point. I have also seen this in relationships among people. I don’t think I’m the only one that dislikes endings. Endings can be hard and they are not always how we envision them, but if we don’t accept them and hold on to a story past its due date, then we're just being stubborn and possibly missing out on the next part of a great adventure.
Jer9:13-14 (NIV) It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my laws. Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts.
I have had moments of utter stubbornness of heart and when I saw the above words I could not help but feel relief. Yes relief, relief that I am not the only one who has been stubborn and followed my heart when it has mislead me. I am not the only one that has refused to accept some endings in my life. When I refuse to accept the endings in my life (and I still sometimes continue to do so), it is because I lack spiritual perspective and I am not rooted in God's word.
I recently went on a trip outside of the city I have been staying in. The living conditions were, let's just say bellow standard, as in learn-to-pee-in-a-hole-in-the-ground, wash-with-dirty-water-from-a- smal-bucket, duck-the-lizards-and-scorpions-and- whatever-you-do-don't drink-the-water standard. While in the midst of this adventure all I could think of was, “when will it end!” I found myself wishing, hopeing and desiring the End with every fiber of my being and it could not come soon enough! I felt like I was at the end of my rope. Yet, as I looked back on the trip, after my return, I learned a lot, I experienced a lot and it was a great adventure. The ending came when it was supposed to and not a second earlier. If it would have ended before it’s time (as in becuase I quit and went back early) I would not have learned what I was supposed to, what I am able to endure and well, I wouldn’t have ridden a camel.
Matthew href="https://pro.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q=mt+5:3">Matthew 5:3 (The Message) You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
Mt24:13(The Message) Staying with it--that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved.
So I have experienced both sides of Endings the desirable kind and the undesirable but there is still the Spiritual. I thought about Gods view on endings and thought of two things: heaven and the resurrection. From Genesis to Revelations God has ended and began again. He has wiped out nations and begun again. But by far the ultimate and most glorious endings are still to be awaited. The most incredible miracle is that of resurrecting the dead which I once thought was like an un-ending but in fact it is a new beginning! We have the best and most amazing ending to look forward to: Heaven and the return of Jesus. When he died that was not an End it was the Beginning. This study has helped me to let go and accept the endings that God has written. My heart was restored.
Jhn11:25 (The Message) You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live.
Rom2:6 (The Message) Make no mistake: In the end you get what's coming to you--
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Since those first days, I have made it out of the Projects, finished my Masters degree in International Development, and moved to DC to work in my field. As a young single Christian woman my struggles today are a little different than they were when I first came to know God, but who am I kidding, not much. It's the every day battle for my heart to be pure before God, to strive to please him, and help others to seek and know Him.
Over my years of a faithful walk with God I have received much grace and compassion and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Through out it all one thing has stayed consistent: God's word. Through His word I have been inspired and it has kept me faithful even when faith seemed like a foreign concept and God seemed deaf to my prayers. I started emailing my Quiet Times which helped me stay accountable as I shared my struggles and fought for understanding. Some wrote back and said they too were inspired and could relate. I hope some of my times can help inspire others who are seeking and fighting just like I am, to get to heaven and take as many as possible with me along the way.
Like what your read? Check out my blog: http://stronggirlforlife.wordpress.com/
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