UrsLife

So, I went to church today, like I do most Sundays, although, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to do so, me not being a driver and all. At least for today, I made it. The sermon for today was delivered by Dallas A. Walker, Jr. and was about the purpose of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. The main point of the sermon was that God has a purpose for everything that he does. The wilderness experience was a test for the Israelites. Sometimes we need to be tested. But why?

The things highlighted as reasons in the sermon focused on humility, obedience, and dependence on God. The wilderness experience, in effect rendered the Israelites humble to God, urged them into obedience to God, and reminded them to depend on God. Essentially, the Israelites needed to do this in order to let God lead them (to the promised land). In the end, when deliverance has come, it is then important not to forget God, and what he has done for you.

I had to think about how this plays into all of the things that I am currently going through. I have been trying and trying to figure things out, knowing that things happen for a reason. I know it is a futile effort because the purpose will only be revealed to me when God deems me ready. Still, the human side of me ponders it constantly.

People keep telling me that what I am going through is just a test. So, in hearing this sermon, I felt that it directly related to my situation. While it still does not give me an answer to all my questions, it gives me some things to think about, or maybe more accurately some things to do. The biggest and most challenging for me has been to depend on God. I find that I am always trying to do this and that to fix a situation and find ways to cope and deal, but there comes a point where one must, as my mother loves to say, “Let go, and let God.”

As much as I try to do so, I still find myself worrying about the same things, stressing out, being frustrated and feeling helpless. That’s when I realize that I am not “letting God.” This is what I struggle with everyday, and in turn, it makes me wonder if my inability to “let God” shows a lack of true faith. Or maybe I am just human. I do feel that I try really hard to let go, but then whatever is bothering me always creeps back up on me. It has been clear that this type of letting go takes practice, prayer, and perseverance.

I think things will be a little easier to let go of when I have a little more finality in my particular situation, and that is likely coming very soon. For the time being, though, I am trying to proactively work at “letting go, and letting God.”

You know me and music…so of course I started a playlist with songs to help me let go. Some are more secular and specific, almost directly in line with my personal situation. Others are more general in what is being let go, but direct in the idea of “letting go, and letting God.”

Here are some highlights:
“Let Go“ by Souljahz (now The Washington Projects)
“Let Go” by BarlowGirl
“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” sung by Kelly Price
“Lettin Go!” by Janelle Monáe

If you have any song suggestions for the “Letting Go” playlist, then by all means post a comment. Otherwise, take a listen to the actual message of “The Necessity of the Wilderness Experience” as delivered by Dallas A. Walker, Jr. It is definitely worth the listen.

“The Necessity of the Wilderness Experience”

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Tags: BarlowGirl, church, Church of Christ, Dallas A. Walker, Dallas Walker, Janelle Monae, Kelly Price, Life, Music, Musings, sermon, Souljahz, The Washington Projects, Thoughts, Wyoming Avenue Church of Christ

This entry was posted by Ursula on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 at 9:53 pm and is filed under Life, Music, Musings, Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.