There is only one problem on which all my existence,
my peace, and my happiness depend:
to discover myself in discovering God.
If I find Him I will find myself.
and if I find my true self I will find Him.
Thomas Merton
We are not our own.
JE R EM I AH 10:23 S TAT E S,
“Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” My dear friends, this is why we are lost. Somewhere along the way, someone convinced us that we are the masters of our own fate, the architect of our existence, and the compass that guides our path. Somewhere along the way, someone fed us the fabrications that we have all of the answers to every question, the solution to every problem, and knowledge to set the trajectory, lead, and direct our own path in life. I stand to blow the whistle on the mendacity of this demonic tactic. Scripture is clear that we, as humans, are not our own, and we are not equipped to direct our steps. So, if we are not equipped, then who is? We can consult the writings of one of the major prophets, Isaiah, (Isaiah 29:14-16), states the following words that describe our desire for lordship in our own lives:
“Therefore once more, I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think ‘who sees us? Who will know?’ You turn things upside down as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘you did not make me?’ Can the pot say to the potter, ‘you know nothing?’”
This is, in fact, what we do every day when we refuse to allow God to reign supreme in our lives. Instead of yielding to God, asking for His divine revelation and guidance, we become the clay giving direction to the potter, when, in fact, we are not, nor will we ever be, equipped to give God instruction on those whom God created in His image. The key to finding ourselves is understanding that we “are not our own, we were bought at a price’” and if we want to find ourselves, we must first find the creator. Each of us, every human who exists or has ever existed, God foreknew. God is the only one with the power to create. Romans 8:29-30 tells us that “for those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, that he might be the first born among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” God has all the answers to every question you have, every plaguing problem, and every solution you seek. Don’t lose yourself by believing you are the lord of your life. God is the only one that can allow holistic transformation and divine confirmation, so that you can meet and build a relationship with the authentic you. However, it is important to remember that on the journey to becoming, you will have scars, for they are the evidence that you walked through the wilderness, and are now triumphant.
Rev. Sha'Leda Mirra
May 18, 2020 All Rights Reserved
Photo by Elijah Hiett
