Not Have

Have you ever had "the nots"?

It's the feeling, the over-whelming feeling of I Have Not, I Am Not, I Cannot or even Why Not?  It hits like a brick wall and then the whirl-winds of I Should Have, I Could Have, I Would Have, Why Didn't I feelings hit. This is sin. This is the devil stealing your thunder.

NOT / HAVE

This is that space, hidden and quiet, that longs to be filled that often times cries out (fill in the blank) Not or (feel in the blank) Have!  It's the God Hole that longs to be filled with the fruits of His spirit.  Do you long for love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, or temperance?  Do you seek Hope?  Within this space is a void that only God can fill and genuinely comfort the soul.  It's a longing.  It should bring you to your knees crying out Abba Father.  

God brings us through seasons so we grow.  Are you too growing through Not and Have?  In this age of instantaneous communication and abundant static we often will lose sight of purpose.  It isn't your purpose to wonder or suppose Not and Have.  It reminds me of the story of Jacob wrestling with the Lord (Genesis 32).  Some nights I wrestle, some nights I ponder and plan.  It's not for me to control the outcome of not have but it is time to let go and be blessed.  Why wrestle when the one who knows us best has the not have under control?  

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Our hope is in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

These two verses have held me together as I graciously pass through the valley of Not and Have.  Never so much in 46 years of life have I in the past three years crossed paths with these two characters.  It is a longing more in line with Why Not, I Could Have, I Should Have, I Would Have and Why Didn't I.    

Some Call It Regret, 

Others Mid-Life, but...

 I Call It God's Grace

God is bringing me through Not and Have.  I see His hand upon my life as I look around.  When I find myself in the Not and Have moods that prey upon me I am thankful for the still voice of His Holy Spirit calmly walking me back to center field and reminding me that He is the Way, He is the Truth and He is the Life (John 14:6).

I recently read a cartoon on Facebook and it succinctly illuminated the overexposure of living life in these times.  Maybe you too saw it.  It was a sheep lounging out in the meadow on an out door chair in front of a blaring TV, laptop upon his lap, book in hand, headphones on to iPod and a boombox blaring in the background with the Shepherd calling from up over the hillside for his sheep.  The bubble has the sheep saying "I Wonder Why I Don't Hear From The Shepherd Anymore" with his Bible laying off to the side of his chair.   The punch line or shall I call it the truth line of the cartoon unfolded with John 10:27, "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me."

Are you a bit overwhelmed by the "things" of this world too?

Facebook, Twitter, Texting, Email, Thoughts - all congregate to clutter the mind.  It's battle in there that results from overexposure and over-processing.  Don't compare yourself to the pedestal you have placed yourself upon or others upon that you compare or wish to compare yourself.  

You are Right Where God Has Purposed You To Be For This Season

I am right where God has me purposed too for this season.  I have a laundry list of Not(s) and Have(s) that I battle but God is winning and for this I am thankful.  As always, I know, He is preparing me.  Each season is a lesson in drawing nearer to my Saviour.

POINTS TO PONDER:

• Are you in the Season of Not and Have?  
• Have you been there?  
• Did you come through the fire to the other side of Not and Have?  

Please share with me your comment on how you are coming through or came past have and not.

Have a joy-filled day,

© 2013 Cizon Sauceda

All Rights Reserved

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