Did you know that we are right in the middle of a “palindrome” week? For 10 days this month, the date reads the same forwards as it does backwards – 9-10-19, 9-11-19, 9-12-19 and so on. I’m not much of a numbers person but a palindrome can also be words – racecar, kayak, mom – or even full sentences – Was it a cat I saw? Pretty cool huh??!
Have you ever felt like you were a palindrome? I know that’s a strange question, call me a dork, but really! Maybe you didn’t know to call it that, and neither did I, but have you ever looked at your life and thought, “the days ahead of me look exactly like the days behind me.” Maybe it’s as simple as your work day is the same hum drum routine day after day after day. Maybe you are repeating the same ole bad choices. Maybe you are stuck in a rut of checking off the to do list. Or, maybe you are facing a struggle and can’t see the end in sight.
Here's what I’ve learned: Only Jesus can un-muddle my messes and point me in the right direction. But I have to allow him to do so!
We tend to want to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel of our lives afraid of what we will lose or have to give up if we surrender it all to Jesus. But could we consider what we gain? Imagine waving a white flag in the air. Imagine laying it down at the feet of Jesus. Imagine his loving arms holding you close in a warm embrace. Do you feel like you have lost all control? Or do you feel …. free?
Surrender and freedom sound a lot like opposites, don’t they?
But when we surrender to God – giving over our whole selves; our hearts and our minds and our bodies – He bathes us in freedom. Freedom to be exactly who He created us to be. Loved. Chosen. Free. Freedom to live the life He created us to live. Abundant. Joyful. Holy. In surrender, we leave our former selves behind and our lives no longer look the same as they did before. In freedom, we gaze upon our future knowing that no matter what yesterday dealt today will look different. Because the past is blanketed in grace and forgiveness and tomorrow is shining with hope.