The God Box

I love vacation! I love saving for it, planning it, all the good food we eat, the adventures while we are there, and most of all the memories we will make...especially a week at the beach. It's one of my favorite places and I am very fortunate that our family is able to go on a beach vacation every year. 

This summer we went to go to Chincoteague Island with some friends. A few weeks before we left God woke me up in the middle of the night with this word, "If you would just let me out of this box that YOU keep putting me in, I will rock your world". I had no idea what that meant, I don't think I put God in a box. I know that He can do anything, I mean he is God of the universe. So why would He tell me that I feel otherwise? Just so you know I'm not one of those who hears God's voice all the time. This has never happened to me before. So I woke up feeling overwhelmed and confused by this word He gave me. I tossed and turned, wondering what on earth this meant. I asked Him to please explain this, but I got nothin'. Not being able to fall back asleep, I decided to write this down in my journal, hoping my brain would release the thought so I could fall asleep.

We left for the beach and I must admit I had completely forgotten what God had laid on my heart just a few weeks earlier. Usually, when we go to the beach, we rent these little beach buggies to ride around town in. Well come to find out they are no longer street legal. So our options were mopeds or these three-wheeled moped bikes. I'm not very adventurous, I like safe fun,  I like to stay within my comfort, anything outside of my comfort zone...lets just say I'm not comfortable. The mopeds were cheaper to rent but I liked the idea of the three wheelers better because they were safer. I thought it was worth spending a little more for my own peace of mind, knowing that we would have our two young boys sitting behind us on these mopeds. The thought of us having an accident and knowing that I'm responsible for my children's safety stressed me out.

My man,  being the encouraging husband that he can be, told me "Just try it babe. Once you get comfortable I know you will be able to drive it without being afraid". Of course, he talked me into it. Going against my better judgment,  I decided to go for it. With no hesitation, my son hopped on. He has never seen me drive this thing but he trusted, that as his mom, I would keep him safe. I'm  not even gonna lie...I was scared to death! I was seriously panicking. I prayed and prayed for protection as we rode all around town.

Okay, it was so much fun...my hair blowing in the wind, my son laughing at me while I try to turn without crashing, and the grip he had on my waist was priceless!  We were having a great time and, just like my husband said I would, I got used to driving it and became comfortable. Soon there wasn't a care in the world. I felt comfortable...safe.

Later on that day while riding around town, God whispers so sweetly to me. He began to explain to me the word that He had given me a few weeks before we left. "Charlyn, this is how it will be if you step out of this box with me. It seems scary but I will be with you. Don't be afraid, be courageous (1Chronicles 28:20). Hold on tight to me like your son did to you. Don't let go. Abide in me and I will take you on the ride of you're life".  I instantly remembered what God has laid on my heart just weeks before. I'm not sure which was more exciting, the fact that I heard God speak twice (which again never happens...ever) or the adventure He is asking me to step out in.

God has called me to do something that I thought I would not be able to do. Honestly, I kept trying to tell him he's got the wrong girl, why in the world would he choose me. I mean, what is he thinking? God knows I like safe and comfortable, I feel like I am not equipped for the things He is asking me to do. I do hair for cryin' out loud!

Sometimes God calls us to do something crazy; something that we would never dream for ourselves (Isaiah 55:8-9).  We cant even imagine what He is truly capable of, so we put Him in this box, play it safe and never reach our God-given potential. We know that He is God and can do great things, but when it comes to our own lives, we don't believe He is incapable of doing those things that seem unattainable. We try to justify saying no to Gods plan because we aren't biblically smart enough, or a good public speaker, or a writer, or that we aren't good with people, not talented enough, or not confident in our spiritual gifts. Thats exactly the lie that Satan would want us to believe. 

 We aren't called to be "safe"Christians. He actually doesn't want us to be comfortable at all. He wants us exercise our faith and be extraordinary. When we surrender our lives to Him, He is capable to do all the things that we say we can't do. By allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us with His divine power is when the impossible can be done...it is no longer a dream, it is a reality. 

The Bible says that He chose us for mighty works(John 15:16). God will get the work done with or without us, so will we allow ourselves to be the ones God uses or will we shy away because it seems crazy and impossible? He actually has already equipped us, we just don't know it until he calls us(Heb. 13:21). He uses our gifts, talents, flaws, past struggles, and life experiences to mold and shape us. Then his spirit works within us to get the job done. He loves us. He wouldn't call us to do something without giving us what we need to walk it out. 

It's an incredible feeling that the God, who can do ALL things has asked me for help. I'm just an ordinary girl who struggles daily. Yet he sees something in me that I do not see. Just as my son hopped right on the moped and completely trusted me without knowing how it would turn out, I too must trust that God knows what He is doing. He doesn't accidentally choose the wrong person, He doesn't make mistakes, and if He's calling me, I guess I should stop telling him NO and just GO.

 I once heard if your dream seems possible then it's not big enough. So friends, what is your dream? What is God calling you to do that makes you think there is just no way? Its called "crazy faith" because it requires us to step out into the unknown, without even truly understanding the personal cost or what the future may hold. I truly believe that God will bless those steps of faith... if we would just take them. I encourage you to let Him out of your box and dare to dream with the One who knows you best. You may not think you can do it, but with God, you surely can. So keep dreaming, the bigger the better!