OPEN THE BOX
In July 2016, I had a complete colectomy which resulted in an ostomy bag. I was 25 years old, single, and I now used the bathroom through a bag attached to my abdomen.
I made my mind up that I was NOT going to date until I had a second surgery to get the bag removed. Because who would want to date someone that wasn’t whole, and had this abnormality? Talk about awkward first date convo.
I thought if I was in control of my dating life, or lack there of, then I could protect myself from future pain and rejection.
Without realizing it, I put God in a box. Crazy right? The almighty, creator of the universe, was now being pushed into a tiny, self constructed box that I made for Him.
Funny thing is, you can’t put God in a box.
See God doesn’t exist to be placed in the boxes we build. He exists to feed the 10,000, part the Red Sea, turn water into wine, defeat death, light up darkness, and save our souls.
I find it ironic looking back on past seasons of my life at all the different boxes I have tried to put Him in. It’s easy to talk about how big our God is when life is rainbows and butterflies. But are we as quick to declare how gigantic and mighty God is when things shift from good to difficult?
I think real faith, the kind of faith that God desires, comes from announcing His greatness, even when it’s not so easy.
Through this season of life, God taught me a valuable lesson on where He belongs. He belongs on the throne, not in the container I tried to shove Him in.
So open up the box. Tear it apart, and let the Savior of the world have free reign in your life. Don’t rob yourself of the blessings God has in store for you.
Because who knows, one day you might be on a first date at Starbucks with someone who doesn’t see your flaws. Someone who can love you deeply, because they love God the most. And there will be no other explanation for it, except that God sent them directly to you at the exact right moment in time. Then when that person asks you to to do life with them forever, you will be so glad you let God out of the box.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
