Jumping rope and singing rhymes. Playing hopscotch with rocks and not jumping far enough to 8 or 9. Girls competing against the boys in freeze tag. Playing kickball and getting hit by the ball so hard that it stung!
Playing jacks was my all-time favorite! Bouncing the ball, picking up jacks, around the world, lagging, and making it to 10's were all kinds of fun! Playing with my sister was one thing but when I had the opportunity to play with girls from the neighborhood, that was even better.
I remember once excitedly spotting a game and being ready to join in on the action. As quickly as I ran to play, the girls shuffled, held hands and yelled "tick tock the game is locked!" That was the signal saying that I was not invited to play the game. I was left out and had to stand back and watch while they played. I was excluded for whatever reasons 9 year old girls could make up.
I smile now but at the time I was so hurt. Not only did they not want me to play, it felt as though they didn't want me. Something was wrong with me. What did I do to not get invited? Why were they having the fun and I only had the unfortunate privilege of watching?
So now that I'm older and as I talk to others I think adults are having the same feelings!
We see or hear about all the success others are having. New homes. New cars. Traveling. Great careers. Great ministries. Great health.
Singles see their friends going out on dates and having the audacity to have fun or even get married!
Parents see the successes of other children as ours are battling difficulty.
We see others have financial blessings as we struggle.
It's as if we are watching and they are saying "Tick Tock the Game is Locked!"
Children often make decisions about their world though their limited understanding of it. Most difficulties in their lives are often explained through themselves. So it wasn't unusual that I blamed myself for not being invited and not the inconsistencies of little girls. It made me think twice about joining in the next time I saw them playing.
Unfortunately as adults we tend to make decisions about our circumstances with limited understanding of them and with limited knowledge of God's Word. We conclude that we have been forgotten,. We are convinced that something is wrong with us and we have not been chosen for a purpose. As a result, we limit our involvement with others. We isolate ourselves. We blame us instead of the lies of the enemy!
As long as we nurse this lack of understanding and knowledge, we are rendered ineffective for the Kingdom of God. If we can continue to believe the lie that it's just us, we are too self focused to turn our attention to purpose. Meanwhile, as Jesus said in Matthew 9:37 "Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few."
We often think that the enemy or Satan only wants us dead. Or we declare that he wants us destroyed.
He does.
However, he will also be content with us being ineffective.
Not a threat.
Powerless.
Isolated.
Uninvolved.
What he doesn't want you to know is the truth of God's Word!
And here's the truth!
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us then who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
"Our Master Jesus has his arms wide open for you." I Corinthians 16:23 (The Message)
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out" John 6:37
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8
You are IN!
GO!
Blessings!
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