Trying

I'm trying. If you're a Mom, you've undoubtedly heard a child say this to you at some point. "I'm trying, Mom," as they struggle to sound out those first words. "I'm trying, Mother," (did you hear the tone in that one?) as you encourage them to keep studying for finals when the memory of those first days reading are years behind you.

Aren't we all trying?

Or shouldn't we be?

I guess that's the question. Should we always be trying? Or at some point do we just say, "I'm done trying."

In the faith world, we talk a lot about our journeys...implies we're going somewhere. Isn't trying the same thing? Aren't we trying to get somewhere? And shouldn't we?

In churches we hear a lot about being content. About resting in God's plans for you. Trusting in Him. And yet, we saw Jesus moving. Even as a young child he "moved" away from his family to listen and learn in a temple while they were all visiting Jerusalem. His parents found him there days later. David didn't settle, he kept expanding his kingdom, knowing that he had been chosen by God for just that purpose. We saw Paul moving, going on missionary journeys throughout the Mediterranean up until the time of his death. They were always on a journey.

I think that's what God wants for us too. He doesn't want us to settle. He doesn't want us to sit still. I know, Be still and know that I am God. I believe that verse. I don't always live it, but I do believe it. God does want us to sit still and listen to what He has to say to us.

But I doubt He would tell us to just sit still, do nothing in our lives. I believe God calls us to act...to action. He calls us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. And He calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Love requires action.