Y’all, I have absolutely fallen in love Psalm 27.

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

Waiting is hard, and let’s be honest – it’s not fun. We want what we want, and we want it now.

When my kids get impatient, when they start badgering me about when, where, and why – I can quickly go straight up mommy mode. Y’all know what I mean. Hands on hips and lips pursed, the following words fly out of my mouth – because I said so.

When I was a kid I didn’t quite understand that answer, but now I realize that it is in fact a pretty good answer.

The reason I said so is because I know so.

Sometimes I picture God doing the same thing. Hands on hips, shaking His head, and uttering those same words – because I said so.

That answer – straight from a loving, all-knowing God – should be enough, y’all.

God knows best. There’s a reason He wants us to wait. There’s a specific reason for each specific situation, too.

We’ve got to trust. We’ve got to be patient. We’ve got to listen.

Y’all ever feel like a phony? A failure?

It happens, and it stinks.

I mean honestly – I can post scripture after scripture about the fruit of the spirit and being patient and kind etc. I memorize it. I pray that this fruit will be evident within me.

Fast forward two hours and I’m about to lose my mind at the local grocery store because once again they’ve moved the frozen gluten free burritos.

The struggle is real, but that doesn’t mean you’re a fake or a failure – it just means you’re human. It just means that every single day you need God to pour His grace down upon you.

Some days I feel like He should dunk me in that pool of grace and hold me under for a few seconds longer – really let it soak in.

Y’all, we are gonna fall short. So short. We’re gonna mess up. Big time. But that doesn’t mean you’re a phony. It doesn’t mean you’re fake, and it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It just means that you need God’s grace. Gods beautiful, unending, unfailing grace.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

Grace.

Let’s choose to extend it to one another this Monday morning – especially the Monday after a holiday.

We don’t know how the past week went for people. Was it good? Was it sad? Was it lonely?

People are going through some tough stuff. Stuff we may never understand because it’s not ours to understand.

But.

We can be nice humans. We can offer a smile. A laugh. Maybe just a silent nod. We can do that.

The good thing about grace is that there’s plenty to go around. We all need it, and we can all extend it.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Without my conversations with Jesus everyday I would be helpless. Without the promises that He left me on that old rugged cross I would be hopeless.

I hope you have that this morning. I hope Jesus is your best friend – your daily companion and confidant. I hope

He is the one you turn to all day everyday.

We are all looking for that one person who loves us no matter what – who brings out the best in us. He’s right here, y’all.

He’s right here.

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:18-22 (NIV)

Not everyone is going to get you.

That’s a hard pill to swallow. Maybe more like swallowing gravel, but it’s true – and it’s ok.

There’s nothing wrong with you. We are all just human, and humans are flawed. There’s something deep within us that makes us think it’s ok to judge others – to determine how others measure up.

Others judge us. We judge others. It’s a viscous cycle.

First of all, we need to stop doing that mess to others. Secondly, we have to stop beating ourself up when others do it to us. We are what God thinks of us – not what other people think.

I’m not saying to have a “do you boo” attitude.

All I’m saying is that if you are truly embracing Jesus then you’re doing all that you can do. You’re on the right path, and that’s all that matters.

Not everyone is going to get you. Not everyone is going to like you. Don’t let that determine your happiness. Don’t let it consume you.

Be nice anyway.

Be kind anyway.

Smile anyway.

Follow Jesus anyway.

Not everyone is going to get you, but Jesus always will. And that’s all that matters.

“3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Don’t apologize for who you were. Just be who you are now. Be better. Be a champion for God.

The devil would love for you to stay fixated on the mistakes of your past.

Don’t you dare.

Jesus was buried so that you could rise up – so that He could wipe your slate clean.

It’s a new day, y’all.

Let the rising of the sun be a reminder that fresh starts happen, and they can be oh so beautiful.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
—2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

That person that has different beliefs than you – they are a person.

That person that has a different church than you – they are a person.

That person that doesn’t have the same kind of clothes as you – they are a person.

That person that wasn’t raised the same as you – they are a person.

Different vocabulary
Different education
Different town
Different nationality
Just different.

The thing about other people, people that are different than you, is that Jesus died for them, too. Different is good. God made different.

Jesus loves them, too.

Jesus wants them to be saved, too.

It’s time to stop focusing on our differences. Instead, let’s focus on the one true common denominator- and that’s Jesus.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17 (ESV)

You’re needed.

You’re making a difference.

Somewhere. Someway. Somehow.

For someone.

Don’t ever downplay or diminish your role in this play called life. You play an important part. Don’t doubt it for one second.

You’re not just a mom.
You’re not just a friend.
You’re not just a teacher.
You’re not just a coach.
You’re not just a sister.
You’re not just an aunt.

You are you. You’re needed. You’re making a difference.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

You can run from God, but He will never run from you. In the middle of all the shenanigans you’re pulling He will still be there.

Waiting.
Loving.
Hoping.
Knowing.

Immovable.
Unshakable.
Unbreakable.

God doesn’t run. He holds steady.

Hold onto Him.
Cling to Him.

“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1 (NIV)

Ugly words.

We’ve all been victims of them. We’ve all said them. It’s shameful really, and I’m just as guilty as the next.

It’s human nature, but that’s no excuse. It doesn’t make it ok.

We’ve got to let Jesus be bigger than our mouths. We’ve got to try our absolute best not to be a spreader of ugly words, of ugly labels, of ugly condemnations.

We have to be the person that models that behavior for our kids, our friends, and anyone else we interact with.

Today, let’s make a conscious effort to spread words of affirmation. Let’s spread words of love, hope, and faith.

And if we can’t do that maybe we should just bite our tongue. After all, self-control is a fruit of the spirit.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21