Real change is slow. I wrote those words at the beginning of 2022; and I have discovered it’s even slower than I first thought.
My One Word for 2022 is “purge.” I’m on a journey to purge regrets, excess stuff and expectations from my life. I want the freedom of an uncluttered soul and and a peaceful home. But it’s going to be a hard-won fight!
Stumbling Blocks
Like any worthy endeavor, forces will come against you to impede your progress. For me, it wasn’t long until I ran into a couple roadblocks.
Right from the get-go, the unreal expectation I had of joining a 28 day writing challenge for the month of February rose up in front of me; and instead of backing off, I embraced it. I ignored the voice of common sense telling me I had not prepared ahead of time, and it might not be the best use of my time to participate this year. Then I added to my burden by choosing a complicated theme involving much soul-searching.
Although I’m proud of the work I started in my series, A Rich and Satisfying Life, I’m only half way done and it is nearing the end of April. I will finish it this year, but I certainly did not meet my expectation.
Keeping Priorities
Next came scheduling conflicts because my husband entered a season of health issues. Our days were taken up with appointments, a couple surgeries, therapy appointments, and the biggest time consumer of them all, a continuous passive motion machine for his knee. Now, the CPM is an awesome tool, and it helped him tremendously; but it requires 8 hours total per day and someone (namely, me) must be with him when he is strapped in.
Very little purging, writing, or sleeping got done during the months of March and April.
Pressing On
In 2018, my One Word for the year was Press, as in pressing on. I intend to keep on pressing on. After all, meeting the goal is what is important. The time required getting there is secondary.
Also, I believe there is much to learn along the Journey. For instance, I came across this nugget of scripture when the enemy was whispering words of discouragement to me, bringing doubt and the belief my striving to meet my goals was all pointless.
The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11 nlt
I must use what gifts I have to serve my community. I cannot find in scripture permission to quit when it gets discouraging, or if I fall behind. In fact it says to do it with all the strength God gives me.
Real change is slow. So, I purge my doubts and press on the Journey. Join me?
I’m linking up to the following communities Grace & Truth, Grace at Home, April One Word Link-Up, Inspire Me Monday, Tell His Story, InstaEncouragements Link-Up, Let’s Have Coffee, Recharge Wednesday
Previous Post: My One Word for 2022: Purge
I’ve been focusing most of my writing efforts here at Jerralea.com. However, my other blog, Jerralea’s Journey, is such a part of my life, I’ve decided to keep both blogs active for the forseeable future. The Journey will be dedicated to family news and posts on reflection. Jerralea.com will focus more on lessons learned through bible study. I’ll put links to both blogs in the hopes you will want to see all that God has been speaking to my heart.
“I cannot find in scripture permission to quit when it gets discouraging, or if I fall behind. In fact it says to do it with all the strength God gives me.”- I was very encouraged by this. It is going in my encouragement to keep going file.
Jodee, what a great idea! I need to start an “encouragement to keep going file” for myself as well.
Thanks for visiting!
Well, you’ve had a lot going on, Jerralea! God has a way of purging things we hadn’t planned for; he does that with me a lot. Rearranging how you’re using your time to care for your husband definitely brings up purging of other things to make room. I love how you reframe this as purging your doubts. Excellent! So glad you shared this update and added it to the linkup! I’m learning as I follow along on your journey.
It sounds like the Lord is purging “expectations” and teaching you how to “abide” in Him. May the Lord give you grace as you continue on your journey of purging, writing, living, and being a caregiver.
Jerralea, though you have had a lot going on, you actually DID do some purging-of unrealistic expectations, control and the ideal you started out with to name a few. Don’t you find it interesting how our idea of our One Word and God’s sometimes clash?
Thank you for this inspiring and encouraging update and reset, press on dear one, I’m right behind you!
What a neat word you have! I love it
Good morning Jerralea, I just found your new site through your blogspot blog and am enjoying it very much! Thank you for your obedience to the Lord. He has spoken greatly through you!
Jerralea, I understand how challenging health issues can be. Just as much so when it’s our spouse. My husband and I have had a couple of those seasons. He got MRSA several years ago and it took much time and treatment to recover. Mine was more recent and surgical. They can definitely remind us that we are not really in control. But God is so faithful when we look to Him. Thanks for sharing your encouraging thoughts. They do need to go in an encouragement file as Jodee said. Hope your husband is doing better now.
You have indeed been a busy girl-but isn’t it amazing how God can have us cut through all the din to quietly find him if we continue to Press on…
Jerralea, when I saw the title and subject of this post I expected a purging of things collected, of clutter. It’s interesting how it went the direction of expectations. God led you down a different path, one which leads to being easier on yourself. Such a good, good God.