The Gift of Exchange

God's nature is to give us more than we have to give in return. Are you ready to make the exchange?

It’s been about 6 or 7 months now since I first felt impressed to start this blog, and two and a half months since it’s been up and running. During this short period of time, I have experienced probably every emotion on the spectrum: excitement, anxiety, joy, fear, peace, stress and so much more.

It’s typically the norm for people to take on jobs, tasks, ministries, etc. that they’ve had interest in, obtained skills for and, many times, are just naturally gifted for (at least of my own experience and observation). For example, I’ve heard several school teachers say, “I’ve always loved children and I’ve known since I was little that I wanted to teach and make a difference”. We naturally have certain bents that cause us to walk a particular path, and if you know me or have read my previous blogs, you would know mine are singing and playing the piano. I will have to say, this is the first time in my life I was caught by surprise when I felt the Lord’s call to write. Writers are generally readers and neither reading nor writing has ever been a favorite pastime of mine. So, I came into this completely green and inexperienced. Having first felt the call, it was exciting, it was new, and it was humbling. I launched a couple of weeks into quarantine. The writings came so easily and flowed from thought to pen (or should I say, computer) so freely. But then, (yeah, you know what’s coming)… work schedules returned to normal, life became its busy self once again and I found myself struggling to find the time. Not only in finding time but finding the subject on which to write. I have sat in my office at 1:00 and 2:00 AM on the morning I’m scheduled to post, searching for the words to say. Sometimes going ahead and posting something I worried wouldn’t touch anyone’s heart. Touching hearts and changing lives, or at least provoking thought to do so, is an important driving factor for me, so I struggled. This is where the rubber met the road. Would I continue doing this on the days it was a struggle, or would this be the end of a short journey? At this crossroads is where I had to make a decision. I would either push through the difficult times or completely give up.

Giving up would be the easier thing to do, that’s for sure. It would free up some of my time, and I wouldn’t have to give thought as to what I should write next. The pressure would be lifted. But I have a call, and therefore, an obligation to follow through. Then He so gently and patiently reminds me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). He tells me not to grow weary in doing good and instructs me that endurance produces character. All of a sudden it becomes this beautiful exchange of my weakness for His strength. It seems like He gets the short end of the stick, but it is God’s nature to give us way more than what we have to give in return. His exchange rate is much greater than ours. He gives us beauty for ashes, joy for sorrow, and strength for weakness. We just have to be willing to make the exchange.

Where do you find yourself on this day? Are you in need of making an exchange? He has peace, joy, strength, forgiveness, healing, love, acceptance – His gifts are endless. He cares about every aspect of your life, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, and He’s ready to meet you where you are!

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Scripture:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 ESV

"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" I Chronicles 16:11 ESV

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12 ESV

"As fo you, brother, do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV