Beneath the Sand

It was a glorious beach day. My sister and I were stepping gingerly on the hot sand as we made our way to where we would set up camp for the day. Looking down, I spotted three beautiful seashells glistening in the sand. But when I picked them up, I saw that they were broken,chipped, flawed.

On the outside, the part of me that can be seen looks whole. My hair has a lovely curl, my skin is tanned and clear, my smile quick. Friends say, "O you look so good! So healthy!" But on the inside, my body is fighting a battle with the deadly lung cancer. Thanks be to God, we are experiencing victory at this moment. At least, I think so. I'll know the "State of my Health" at my next scan, quickly approaching.

The appearance of  the shells was misleading. Our outward appearance can be deceiving. What really matters is what is below the surface, deep in the hidden places, under the sand.This applies to the health of our body as well as the health of our souls and spirits.

How easy it is to portray ourselves as strong, together, victorious but inside be crumbling away with fear, anger, unforgiveness, insecurities, sin and guilt. Jesus said of the Pharisees (the spiritual looking people of His day), "You are nothing more than tombs painted with fresh coats of white paint - tombs that look stunning and beautiful on the outside, but within are found decaying corpses full of nothing but corruption." Matthew 23:27 The Passion Translation

No matter what we seem like on the outside ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ALL of us like sheep have gone astray and turned to our own way. We ALL have hard battles. But God has caused the iniquity and brokenness of us ALL to fall on Jesus as He endured the cross. We ALL need Jesus to bring His healing touch to every part of our beings. He has provided WHOLENESS for the me that you see and the me that nobody sees!

"He put upon Himself our weaknesses and CARRIED AWAY our diseases and 

MADE US WELL."

Matthew. 8:17 The Passion Translation

I don't just want to look healthy! I want to truly be filled with life and health and peace....even in the middle of hard battles and disappointments and pain. So today I'm bringing my sin and brokenness and fear and stress to the foot of the cross where Jesus provided a way of escape, a way of victory. For sure, this is a life long process and I'm so grateful to have been given TODAY to surrender to Him and walk with a thankful heart in this season.That's my job (as my two-year old grandson told his mother). My future and the upcoming scan? Well, that's His job to handle.

"But we THANK GOD for giving us the victory as conquerors through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. So now, beloved ones, stand firm, stable, and enduring. Live your lives with an unshakable confidence. We KNOW that we prosper and excel in EVERY SEASON by serving the Lord, because we are assured that our union with the Lord makes our labor productive with fruit that endures."

I Corinthians 15: 57, 58 The Passion Translation