For It Shows

So you've been through life a little. And it shows.

How you've been through the tough stuff. The pressures. The heartaches. The headaches. The frustrations and struggles, the lows. The deep, deep lows of life. The loss. You've seen, you've experienced, and you've been close with the hardships. And you've survived, or so it seems. At least you're alive to tell it.

But should you tell it? Need you tell of it?

For it shows. Your one life shows it, already. The scars of hardships. The memories of failure. The constant reminders of the hurt. They all tell, already. They all speak to the world, to your one self, of despair. Of death in your life.

For the hardness, it shows. The bitterness, the unforgiveness, the fears, they all show. Your one self shows itself tall and proud when all of this world causes and pulls and pushes you into relying on self. Oh, how it shows. The self-pity, the anger, the frustrations and panic-led endeavours to somehow achieve some sort of peace. It just happens, when you’ve been through life a little, and death rears its head in your life. And it shows.

So you've been through life a little, and it shows.

But, oh, how it must be. Because in order for life to happen, death must happen first. So let the death all around you and within you cause you to run to your Saviour. That’s how life happens. Death to self must happen where you know your need for Christ.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

And that moment you believe, that decision you made to follow Christ, that you make again and again, your yes to Jesus as the way to life. It came about because you’ve been through life a little, through the tough stuff of life, and you’ve tasted of death. And from death you cried out for life, where God showed you the Way to everlasting life, where He showed you Christ.

And oh, how you want to tell it! That He is the Way and the Truth and the Life to you! (John 14:6).

But I ask, should you tell it? Need you tell of it?

For it shows, already. Your life hid with Christ shows it, already. The scars of forgiveness given. The memories of grace received. The constant reminders of mercy upon mercy unmerited, for you. They all tell, now. They all speak to the world, to your one self, of life everlasting. Of life here and now, already.

Because the softness, it shows. The freedom, the forgiveness and peace, they all show. Your one life, hidden in Christ, displays God's glory and majesty for the world to see. Because you've been through life a little, and you’ve learned how to run to Christ again and again, over and over. For Christ is enough to save, even you, through it all. And it shows. Oh, how it shows!

How Christ has conquered the grave in you! How you are united, forever, with Christ. Where life is, always! Eternal, abundant, always and forever life!

And you are expected to continue living, because you can! Because you can live! One way. The only Way - by running back to Christ, again and again. Having been through life a little and having experienced death, you now know the way back to life, where you can live. Because you know the One Who is the Way to life.

Death with Christ, for life with Christ (Romans 6:8)!

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“Consequently, he [Christ] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” - Hebrews 7:25 ESV

"Come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts." - Jeremiah 3:22 NLT