Loving Life and Living it to the Fullest

By Virginia “Ginny” Castro

Loving Life and Living it to the Fullest – “…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”
John 10:10b

There are things in this life in which we cannot control; our family we’re born into, the weather, the past, the future, how people view us or treat us, other people’s happiness, disabilities, certain health problems and illnesses, what happens in the world around us, to name off just a few. (I think the Lord has been trying to teach us something)… and then there are things in which we can control; our choices, our thoughts, our attitudes, how we treat others, how we react to situations, how honest we are, how we take care of our bodies, how we perceive things, the list can go on and on. 

If there’s one thing that the Lord has been teaching me over the last few months, and I’m sure a few of you can relate, is to STOP! Simply Stop! Stop with the busyness. Stop and see His great goodness. Stop and see that He is all we need. Stop and be thankful for our ‘daily bread’ and the situations going on around us. Stop and see that the life He has given us is beautiful. Stop and see all He has given us. Stop and say, I love my life, I’m thankful for the stillness, thankful for the dull moments in this life where nothing seems to be happening. Stopping and seeing the blessings in life even in the midst of hard times.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:1-4

Have you counted this season of uncertainty ‘pure joy’? Have you stopped to ‘smell the roses’ and find your current blessings during this time of hardship and when chaos is all we can see in the world around us? I don’t know about you, but I’ve never shouted and leaped for joy, started clapping my hands, started to do cartwheels down the street having a big “Thank you God” party going through trials in life. But, He has taught me ‘Joy Unspeakable and full of glory’, His glory, and His peace through the circumstances. He wants our hearts and He wants our honesty. He doesn’t want our fake praises when we are going through the deep dark struggles in life, but He wants us to keep our eyes on Him and He will continue to allow circumstances in our lives, often the same ones, until we learn the lesson that He is trying to teach us and until we Can learn to Praise Him during the circumstance. 

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:22-23

Do you doubt His goodness during the storms of life? Would someone call you a joyful person? Do you believe that God is greater than what you are going through? That He can restore broken relationships? That He can provide all your needs? That He can bring healing? That He can help you or someone you love overcome addiction… the list can go on and on. Do you believe? Do you have hope?… There was a time in my life where all my focus was on my circumstances; my broken marriage, my wayward teenager who was battling addiction, my absent parents, other broken family relationships in my life, lack of sleep and utterly exhausted. It was a lot. A lot. I went through the everyday ‘motions’ of a Christians life. I went to church, joined the bible studies, and wholeheartedly served my community but my faith that Christ could change the situations around me and my thankfulness wasn’t there and my prayers were empty. I was bitter. Because deep down inside, I had little faith. I didn’t see God greater than my circumstances and when I took my eyes off Him, I sank. I fell deep into temptation and sin. And I’m not talking little sin, I’m talking “Go Big or Go Home” sin.  

But God…

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, “ Corinthians 15:10 

The Lord allowed situations and circumstances in my life to bring me to a place of complete reliance on Him. He needed to break me. He is a God who pursues, and He pursued me. The trials hurt along the way. I suffered. My marriage suffered. My family suffered. But God restored. We still go through trials. Hard family trials that we don’t wish upon anyone but we have Hope in Christ and we KNOW that He has us and our loved ones in His hands. We can rejoice. We can have joy in the circumstances, as Shandra shared last week. 

“Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation!” Psalm 68:19 

We can rejoice! We can be thankful! We can count our blessings..name them one by one. Not just the big ones, but the little ones too. The Lord loves us so much and He doesn’t want our circumstances, situations, and the chaos going on in the world to rob us of our joy… but that we can focus on Him, and live life to the fullness. Living the life that He’s created us to be. Alive in Him. 

“You will make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of Joy; In your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

(Ginny, her husband Steve and two boys, Jacob and Joshua, have been attending SBC since mid-February.  She volunteers as a Resiliency Coach and other opportunities through Fresno Police Chaplaincy.  Before coming to SBC, Ginny served in children’s ministry at their previous church and is looking forward to joining that ministry, and others, once we’re able to worship together again.)