Laurel A. Ness: To Lay Down a Life

Monday, August 28, 2017

To Lay Down a Life

I was remembering how, several years ago, a kindred-spirit friend of mine looked into my eyes and said, "You're one who lays down your life." It was an incredibly sweet and encouraging thing to say, but . . .

. . . I felt kinda like a fraud.

I mean, I've never thought of myself as someone who lays down her life. In fact, I've been thinking A LOT lately about how afraid I am sometimes to do just that. I've been realizing how easy some people make it seem to just say, "Lord, here's my life. Do with it what You want."

Not so for me.

I'm sometimes afraid to say those words!

On an extra courageous day (or moment) I might say them, only to grab them back the next.

What horrible thing might He ask of me if I invite Him to do with my life whatever He wants?

When I write that, it looks absolutely ridiculous to me. God never said His children would have an easy life. Everything I have, everyone I love, belongs to Him already. Isn't He already doing with my life what He pleases to do? And I've already endured some ugly circumstances in my life, which He has and will use for good because I love Him and was called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). He is a loving God and does not allow trials for His own enjoyment, but for a bigger, perfect purpose. He's refining me. He's growing me. And loving me through it all.

So why the fear?

I'm guessing I love my own life more than I love Him. That doesn't look ridiculous in writing. It looks true. And sad.

Not that I don't love Him and live for Him the best I know how. I do! I slip up, but I'm doing my best to live for His glory. It's just that, in the deepest parts of my heart, I know I'm still holding back.

"You lay down your life." Those are some incredibly profound and powerful words! May I more consistently choose to live up to them!

Surrendering.

Moment by moment . . .