Have you ever read a good book and didn’t want the story to end? It had such an impact on you or left such an indelible impression that you wanted to not end the last chapter. You knew that turning that last page would end an experience that was pleasurable. Sometimes you even read the whole book again in order to try to capture that affinity you may have felt with the author in order to feel refreshed.
In our daily lives we are living out our story and each experience is akin to a chapter. Some may be wonderful while others not so gratifying. In our busy lives we need relationships to confirm, validate and admonish us. Our hearts crave these things as part of the hierarchy of human needs that God has embedded in each of us. Our life long journey includes interactions with one another to find out w
ho we are, why we’re here and more importantly how to relate to God. It’s in this critical soul searching time in our lives that many find true comfort in getting to the end of a chapter. Although we cherish happy endings sometimes it is needful for us to experience difficult seasons. To get closer to God we may be required to end some chapters in our lives. These negative “chapters” may include people, circumstances, jobs or relationships that may have served a purpose for a time but is now obsolete. There are many reasons why we don’t end unhealthy chapters. There could be strongholds of manipulation, fear or complacency that drive us to accept a mediocre existence. Many people are active in their churches, may belong to several auxiliaries or hold leadership roles yet have a deficit of depth in their relationship with God.
Our world is so techie connected that we’ve allowed ourselves to become distracted, forgetting our real purpose. We are listening to the demands of our society and ignoring the voice of God after He’s given us permission to end the chapter.
If we are to maintain our love relationship with the father some things in our lives must end to allow us the peace we need. When we don’t end the chapter, we carry burdens that were never our own. In the aftermath of our pain we then accuse God of not answering our prayers.
When we don’t end negative counter productive chapters in our lives, our need to be affirmed tends to cloud our vision which hinders how we view God’s plan for our lives. God has a destiny for all of us yet we often times trivialize the importance of our assignment by catering to fleshly desires. When we disobey out of stubbornness or fear we are in effect telling Him that He’s not enough to handle our lives. We are defying God by sending the message that we can’t trust His leading.
Could it be that we are so terrified of succeeding in God’s plan that we choose to repel His instruction?
Could it be we wait for “someone else” to initiate what God has in fact called us to do in order to relieve ourselves of accountability?
If we seek, trust and respond to God we are blessed beyond measure. However this can only happen when we lay aside the weight of negativity. We can find fulfillment, restoration and unspeakable joy in our walk as believers. This is joyous news! God wants us to look to Him with our entire heart embracing His will. We need to grasp the gravity of how much God loves us to muster up the strength to end unhealthy chapters in our lives. In His love we will find power to confront toxic situations. God has paved the way for us to live victoriously. We do not have to labor for His love, mercy or compassion. We just need to listen for His still small voice. We need to yield when He tells us to leave a predicament or relationship. God knows when it is truly time for us to end the chapter, turn the last page, walk in confidence and simply pray.
We will always be in a state of spiritual disarray if we hold on to the past. I encourage you today to look to the future with anticipation. Greet this upcoming season in your life with expectancy. It is only then that you can turn the last page to end this chapter and fully envelop where God is taking you.
Be encouraged child of the most high God~!
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Dr. Denise J. Williams was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and has over twenty-two years of ministry experience. Her first book “The Healing Of A Broken Vessel” can be found on http://www.amazon.com. She’s currently penning her second book & resides in Jacksonville, FL with her husband.
I think of the loss of my marriage as a book I’d like to read again except have a different ending. I think of all the things that I wish I had changed in our story line. But I do know as long as I keep looking back, I will never find my new chapter. I must look forward and truly trust God.
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