Moments of Enlightenment — Tanesha's Chronicles

I know I said I was going away for a while to regain my emotional energy but God has a funny way of answering prayers. In the moments where I really just wanted to keep myself to myself were the moments I felt enlightened as during the past week I have given so much advice but the funny thing was, it was like God was giving me answers for questions that I'd previously asked him but He was reminding me whilst I was helping others. Isn't God a genius!

First, let me lay out my 'Moments of Enlightenment'

Issue -

'Fear of Failure' 

Advice -

What I said to this person was that everybody strives for perfection. We all want a perfect outcome. Do you know why I believe that perfection doesn't exist? Because we as people are never content. However, something you may not deem to be perfect may be enjoyable to another person. It may even be the perfection that they strive for. That's why we shouldn't let the fear of failure hold us back because we all have so much to give; it's just a shame that we cannot see it.

Issue -

'Dealing with being alone'

Advice -

First and foremost, you're never alone. God has got you. Furthermore, I understand the desire to be in a relationship. That crave for affection. That image that is constantly placed before us of couples enjoying themselves and being 'in love'. What we need to understand is that those things will come when the time is right. They may never even come. Just remember there's a reason for everything. In your season of being single or 'alone' what you need to learn to do is value yourself and enjoy your own company. Take time for yourself. Spoil yourself. Get to learn more about yourself. Self exploration is so valuable. You'd be surprised at the results. I'm saying all of this because the way you treat yourself shows on the outside whether or not you think it does. What you put out is to be expected in return. I remember during one of my counselling sessions, when I first started dealing with anxiety and depression. the counsellor told me that if I carried on hating myself and not valuing who I was I would most likely end up in a relationship which involved domestic violence. At first I felt insulted but when I dwelt on it I understood where she was coming from. With the mindset I had I could potentially attract someone with the same mindset, but they would take their problems out on me knowing that I wouldn't leave because I was mentally weak.  So please darlings, continue to bloom because you are amazing all on your own!

Issue -

'Ignoring our emotions'

Advice -

When we bottle up how we truly feel it does more damage than good. Just because stress and problems are inevitable in our lives doesn't mean that we should just accept it and move on. That is so unhealthy and you are really not being honest with yourself. Sometimes we have to brace ourselves for scars. God never said that we wouldn't go through battles without obtaining some scars. He sure promised that He would heal those scars though. For me, this whole putting my life out there on a blog for the world to see was at first weird as I don't even like to let people in but after I post I really feel better for it. I'm not saying share your problems with the world but you have to deal with them at face value. It's good to be vulnerable sometimes. In those vulnerable moments is where we can really connect with ourselves and God can connect with us. 

Another important part of life is that sometimes we need to detour from what our heart desires and regain focus on what God desires for us. In 

Matthew 16:24-26

it says;

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

There are things that I so desperately want to do but I know I can't. I have to stop and question if ruining my relationship with God is even worth it. This world is no where near worth it. The foolishness of this world can only go on for so long but God's word is everlasting. If I truly love Jesus I need to follow Him with my whole heart or not even bother at all. I've learnt that by clinging onto certain desires I am only hurting myself more and more. Sometimes, in order to wake us up most we are given the things that we desire but those things destroy us and we learn the hard way that they were actually never intended for us. It sounds tricky but it's pretty straightforward.

A verse that connects to this nicely is 

Galatians 5:19-23.

I like the way The Message version of the Bible words it:

19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.

22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Think that really speaks for itself. A great message to reflect on.

I've learnt that another reason I was so weary was because I was forever in doubt. In 

Matthew 14:27-31

we read about the story of when Jesus walked on water:

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Just like Peter we run to Jesus's calling. We have that feeling of hope and joy. Then we encounter problems - a boisterous wind and we began to sink into our own misery forgetting the very person that enabled us to walk on water before. I am so guilty of this. I forget everything Jesus has brought me through and stress myself out until I feel that I cannot take the pressures of life anymore. This is really something I need to work on. My faith.

I hope just like me, you have been enlightened, encouraged and refreshed. I believe this is the longest post I have written so far but I really just had to share these things with you. Please pray for me and for yourselves also. If you ever need to talk you really can just message me. Thank you so much for reading and supporting.

 

 