Some of my favorite scriptures in the Bible are:

“We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed” (II Cor. 4:8-9)

and…

“… we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Cor. 4:18).

C.S. Lewis quote

I was trying to find a specific C.S. Lewis quote and found it in an article called, “I am on Aslan’s Side,” written by Rector Ed Hird of St. Simon’s Church North Vancouver, B.C.  Here is an excerpt of his wonderful post:

One of the most interesting Narnia creatures is the Marshwiggle, a symbol of negativity, pessimism, and reliable gloom. In the Narnia Chronicles’ ‘Silver Chair’, the Green Witch says to the Narnians: “Put away these childish tricks. I have work for you in the real world. There is no Narnia, no overworld, no sky, no sun, no Aslan.” The Marshwiggle remarkably responds by affirming: “I‘m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can, even if there isn’t any Narnia” (emphasis mine).  It is easy to be cynical and bitter. It took courage for the Marshwiggle to look past his natural negativity and cling to the promises of Aslan.

How much can I bear?

Sometimes it seems that we just cannot take any more spiritual warfare or attacks from life, the world, the devil, or his demons.  In my life lately, I have felt that way.  Everything seems to be hitting hard and hitting all at once, especially since I started this blog.  But I know I have a choice.  I can give up, or I can continue on – stepping out in faith.

My faith is not as strong as it needs to be.  As the familiar serenity prayer states, I know I should not worry about things I cannot change, and I know I should have the courage and wisdom to change things God has given me the grace and ability to change.  My tendency though -and what I do all too frequently- is to worry about things and to stay in my comfort zone.  This means remaining in a mediocre Christian life.  I am sick of mediocre.  I want more than that, yet I am so weak and scared.  What a dilemma!

Decision – fear or faith

I have to make a decision either to trust God and believe His promises, no matter what my circumstances, or to remain scared, worried, and immobilized, doing little more than taking up space until Jesus calls me home.  I do not want to live like that (but sometimes, unfortunately, my flesh does).

The choice is mine to make.  God promised to be with me (Joshua 1:5) and take care of me (Matt 6:30), and He also stated plainly that I will have to suffer too (I Peter 4:12).  Jesus did, and His suffering was worse than mine can ever possibly be.

I am tired of clinging to my ineffective and pitiful efforts to change things, control things, or fix things myself.  Sometimes I get tired of being pressed, perplexed, pursued, and struck down.  I have to remember to stop looking at the temporal things in this world and choose to look at the unseen things – the things that last.  I have to choose to either walk in faith or to live an ordinary life of fear.

Jesus – no matter what

I choose to be like the Marshwiggle who basically said, “I’m choosing to believe in the One I cannot see right now.  I know He will bring His promises to pass in my life even though I have no tangible evidence of that yet.  I choose to have faith in Him.  Even if the world could convince me that there is no possibility I am right, I choose to be a Christian.  I choose to follow Jesus no matter what happens to me.  I am sticking with Him.  I’m staking my entire life, all that I am, and all I will ever become on the truth of His word.  I believe Him.”

In my failures, I am thankful for His grace.  With all my heart I want to do right and please Him, yet I rarely keep myself perfectly pure and clean for even one minute of any day.  I want to become all He wants me to be, to let Him make me into whatever He wants.  With His mercy and help I will cling to His promises and walk in the eternal things I cannot see.

Christian Kindred, what do you face that tries to hold you back?   How do you follow Jesus no matter what happens in your life?  Please share your comments!