Can we get real for a bit?
Do you agree with what I share here on holybarre.org?
Do you believe these scriptures and faith-filled statements to be true?
Do you think what you’ve been taught truly reflects the heart and mission of Jesus?
Do you consider it joy when you face trials?
Is the joy of the Lord your strength?
Do you trust Him?
Do you believe He can do more than you ask, think, or imagine?
Can you weather ANY storm if you have deep roots in His love? And are connected to the Vine?
Do you believe you can worship in Spirit and in Truth in all that we do? Do you believe He provides deep wells of Living Water so we thirst no more?
Do you believe we’re better together?
These are important questions. Ones that only you can answer. But you need to answer them honestly. (And you don’t have to answer ‘yes’ to every one.) Answering honestly based upon what you actually think and feel is better than answering any of these based upon how you think you should answer. Trust me – these are the exact questions I’ve been asking myself lately.
As someone who is known for staying steady, controlled and stable in many situations, I’ve been on quite a roller coaster of a storm over the past several months. And on this ride, I’ve been challenged to walk my talk. Do I really believe all I write and say about Him, His Word, His Love, and His Power? Can I answer yes to each question above? Do I even want to keep believing it all when faced with continuous storms?
The Lord gives us the choice . . . To rely on deep roots in His love. To cling to, not just remain in, the Vine. To test the deep wells and see if they’re real. To get real with ourselves – our thoughts, our feelings, our doubts, our fears, our sensations, our hurt. To be honest and feel and name all the good, the bad, and the ugly. To let our guard down, settle into weakness, wrestle with doubt, and ultimately trust His Spirit within us while considering all the books, resources, and therapists recommend. But do we chose to do so?
Recently, I pressed pause on my search for knowledge and understanding and hit play on what was really going on within me. It wasn’t pretty, but it was real and raw and refreshing. And you know what, the Lord was there for it all! Active, near, and engaged.
God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you. For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in you. God has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams bring joy and delight to his people. His river flows right through the city of God Most High, into his holy dwelling places.
Psalm 46:1, 3-4 TPT
My experience of His truth in this storm, rather than just reading about it in scripture, has brought more depth and power to the words of this psalm above. He IS safe and powerful and my refuge. He proves it time and time again. More than enough. Storms can’t erode my faith. He constantly brings joy and delight, even when it doesn’t make sense. Thanks to the Spirit, my body and being is His holy dwelling place. AND it’s also okay to doubt, fear, wonder, cry, breakdown, get real and keep moving forward with Him.
We’ve heard how the Lord wants ALL of us, including our heart, soul, strength, and mind, but He wants ALL of us because He desires for us to EXPERIENCE His love. We can keep our faith in a neat, little, scripture-based, quotable instagram-worthy box, or we can challenge and weather and endure and process and EXPERIENCE Him. And I’m afraid our richest experiences come from our greatest storms and pain.
When we EXPERIENCE Him, we are experiencing the Holy Spirit in us. I’m learning more and more about what it means to ’embody’. This therapy term serves as a powerful reminder that our body is intricately connected with every thought, feeling, and sensation (past, present, and future). Even more, I find it describes how the Spirit fills, guides, comforts, and connect with us. He dwells within us and makes us healthy, whole, and holy. It’s our beautiful design and the way our Creator wants us to experience Him!
So yes, I consider it joy when I face trials and when my faith is tested. (Clearly it’s the ‘joy beyond understanding’.) Yes, I’m so grateful for deep roots in His love and deep wells of Living Water. Yes, I am grateful my house is built upon the Rock. I’m armed and dangerous because of the Armor of God I chose to put on each day. The joy of the Lord is my strength, because His power is actually made perfect in my weakness. When I am weak, He is strong. I may endure rough storms and even get pruned in the spring, but I remain connected to the Vine and supported by a trellis of authentic community, powerful prayers, and real emotions. Personally experiencing the One seated on the throne as I am embodied by His Holy Spirit.
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life.
Revelations 21:5-6 CSB
What about you? Do you believe what you read here or have you experienced it? Do you have doubts? Do you wonder if you can keep going? Are you scared? Are you anxious? Get real, process, journal, cry, name, and invite Him into it all . . . He’s near and eager and ready to personalize His love for you in a life-changing experience.
To EXPERIENCE His Spirit and Truth is WAY more powerful than just learning about it. Thank you for reading these posts and being a part of Holy Barre. I may have the opportunity to make your physical and mental muscles burn and even pull some heart strings through my written and spoken words, but ultimately, my prayer is you EXPERIENCE His all consuming fire for yourself so you burn brighter than you ever dreamed.
As seen in our class pic from yesterday, He’s doing a new thing through Holy Barre. He’s doing a new thing in my life. He’s always doing new things. May YOU experience each new thing fully. May we embody all He is and soak up His Living Water, which He freely and graciously gives. May we move in love and burn brighter together.
Here’s a link to a recent YouTube workout focused on storms, trials, and Revelations 21:5-6.
Burning Bright! 