Small Mustard Seed

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

Romans 8:32

I was reminded of this verse this week while staring at my Christmas tree. My husband and I have been going through some trying times lately; just in his job situation and wondering what plans the Lord could have for us. We thought things would really start to look up soon, and while great things have happened, we just aren't where we'd like to be in a lot of different ways. I hate that Christmas can be so financially stressful because I love to buy gifts for everyone - I hope someday to be able to give to whomever I want without worry or stress - but this year definitely isn't "someday."

Back to the point... I was staring at my Christmas tree, wishing I could be a little more joyful this season when this verse from Romans came into my head. It made me think about how Christmas isn't time to reflect on what we have, necessarily, but to remember the great disaster that we have been saved from. It's not just about blessings and having a home to live in or food in the fridge - all of those things could change in an instant. I cry often these days (especially being pregnant and all) trying to understand the unimaginable Love God demonstrated in saving us from eternal death. He didn't just come here to make our lives have purpose and be fulfilling (Jeremiah 29:11, John 10:10) but even when we were in our most miserable state, He reached down and took us from the worst possible situation imaginable.

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

Romans 5:6-10

I cannot help but worry about the situations in my life and I struggle with knowing the goodness God desires for us, but thinking about how much we have been saved from in Christ's death helps me to trust a bit more in what God is doing in me. There is such an abundant life that we can have in Jesus' life but we scarcely take advantage of it. There is so much we have been given through Jesus' birth and we forget about it on a daily basis. We forget the need we have and begin to plan out how to best take care of ourselves, struggling to get by, when all we really need to do is let go.

Matthew 11:28-30

All we really need has already been given to us. Now, all we are asked to do is to take the mission that Christ has given us - specially formed for each of us as a wooden yoke is made individually for each oxen. When I really focus on only the things God has called me to, my worries disappear and difficult situations are worked out more wonderfully than I could have ever planned on my own. Yes, we have responsibilities but let's not get overwhelmed with worldly to-do lists and tasks that are eternally meaningless. Providing for my husband and preparing for my son are what God has called me to in this season of my life - not taking photos or worrying about money.

We've been given much more than the things we have. We can gain much more than what we currently take advantage of. There is an endless abundance in Christ that few ever know - an abundance I feel afraid to ask for. But we should - and we must if we truly desire to know the goodness of God and to see Him personally working all around us. After all, if God sent the most valuable thing He had to save us while we were completely ungrateful and undeserving, imagine what He has in store for us now that we have been redeemed and brought into His life. Christmas is a wonderful time to be grateful but it is an even clearer picture of the great opportunity we have in being a Child of God.