I was recently at a graduation ceremony, and the speaker said a profound quote:
“Life is 90% mental and 10% physical. Never throw a wishbone where your
backbone should be.”
The speaker was referring to the times in life when things seem bleak, leaving us puzzled about the next step or how exactly we are going to make it through. This is because many of the graduates came from rough backgrounds, and by graduating they were getting second chances at life, doing a great thing to better themselves, and most importantly, “showing up!” I sat there in awe because it made me think about my own life, and I hope it makes you think about yours as well.
I realized that’s what life truly is at the end of the day, a compilation of us just “showing up” and acting on faith each and every day in our lives, in whatever way that may be.
The speaker’s words reminded me of when I became a Christian and truly started to follow God. I was extremely scared. I did not necessarily know what Christians did or even if I was up to the task of adhering to the standard and duties of being a Christian. This instance reminded me of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV):
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Something my mentor once told me and still does to this day is, “You have to show up and give God something to work with.” My mentor was acknowledging the fear we experience, the worry, the trials, the tribulations, and life’s eventual 1-2 punch that will try and knock us off our path to whatever God has planned for us. These things try to stall or stop us, leaving us in a state of paralysis, so much so that we do nothing forever, too scared to move or make a choice.
For instance, recently I had been looking for a place to move to because my current living situation was coming to an end. If you’ve seen the housing market in California, you know the struggle of finding a decent place in a safe neighborhood and in close vicinity to your job or school for a reasonable price. To add insult to injury, I’m only a year removed from graduating college and on the low starting salary spectrum of my career field. So my options were slim and few. I spent sleepless nights trying to find a place I wanted to call home and feel comfortable in, while also having faith I could pay rent consistently and adhere to my other monthly financial duties.
To put it plain and simple, I was so worried and filled with anxiety that I just did nothing. I let each day pass by, allowing my spirit to fill with more worry and fear. But soon after, God gave me a much-needed nudge and those speaker’s words just kept ringing in my head: Show up!”
James 2:26 (ESV) states, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” So I acted, and within that week I had a great place, with reasonable rent and close proximity to my school and job. I showed up, and God did the rest.
This past trial, alongside the speaker’s words, got me thinking about showing up and taking that next step or leap of faith. It could be a new job position, a possible romantic connection, a change in living environments, tough life choices, or something as simple as the type of sauce you would like with your chicken nugget. We have to move for God to move and show out. We can have faith in God because Romans 8:28 (NIV) states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
If I can leave you with anything at all, it is that following God and taking that first step won’t be easy at times, because we can’t see what God sees or know what God knows. However, I think that’s the beauty in it, not knowing. It’s up to God to supply, and our duty is to SHOW UP!
