A Better Way

“The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”—Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

When it comes to travel there is something special about experiencing a place through someone who lives there. They have the inside scoop and know all the must-sees, must-haves, and must-do’s! They can give you an experience that is the most authentic to their culture. Most importantly, they know the places you should skip. Who wants to waste money on bad restaurants, expensive excursions, or a bad transportation system when there’s a better way!

I have two international trips coming up. The first one is with a well-established company that has created an itinerary of all the highlights from Amsterdam to Switzerland. They know the best holiday markets, areas to shop—not to mention restaurants and places that will best represent their culture.

The other one is with a group of people who get to experience Israel every year. Where to stay with the best view and the must-see street markets and the best part, they speak the native language, and they know the people who live there.

Based on my hosts’ knowledge, they’ll provide a better way to get the most out of my trip because I will get the most authentic immersion in the places that are the most beloved to them, as well as the things they must absolutely share with their guests. Based on the skill and knowledge of these two groups, I’m in the right hands. My experiences are sure to be memorable.

I’m not afraid to travel to these areas, because the people I’m traveling with know the ins and outs. Even if they fail me, I have the One who authored it all. The One who sees me no matter where I am and who hears me whenever I call to Him besides He can provide me instruction and connections at any time.

Ultimately, He’s constantly providing those things and more, even when I’m not consciously seeking Him.

There’s never a moment of any day that we do not have access to His inside info no matter where we find ourselves. No one knows people, languages, or cultures better than their Creator. And no one knows where to find the best views, how to connect you with an English-speaking person at just the right time, or where to find the best food except the One who holds all of life in the palm of His hand.

Experiencing life through the eyes of the Creator gives you a depth of appreciation that is not possible through our own self-guided tour. Looking at people and culture through the heart of the Author reveals relationship on a whole new level vs trying to translate it on our own. Eating from the banquet table that God prepares for us every single day is a delight to the senses.

His knowledge of our visit here can provide a deep-seated joy in the little things, such as noticing and responding to a look of love, a bouquet of flowers, a child’s smile, or a beloved pet. There is also a special connection in the universal language of both laughter and tears.

One of my favorite specialties is God’s ability to turn every ending into a new beginning. Each beginning has an ending, and each ending brings a new beginning. It’s a natural cycle that we experience but there are times when our endings find us in a pile of dust with no semblance of where we thought we were.

It’s times like this that we desperately seek a guide who can lead us into a new beginning. And not just a new beginning for the sake of a new beginning … no, we have to know that our dust is not in vain. We need someone who not only understands our pain. But we need the One who can redeem it. God is the One who knows a better way to help us move from pain to purpose.

When the weight of Christ’s body was pulling through the iron nails that pierced His hands and feet, He declared, “It is finished.” His exhale was getting ready to be followed by an inhale that would flip existence upside down.

That cross was a finish line for Christ’s earthly life. A flesh-and-bone, emotion-filled, day-to- day life that revealed just how well Jesus understands temptation, poverty, frustration, weariness, rejection, sorrow, ridicule, and loneliness. He has traveled the same road we’re asked to travel. Not only does He have the inside scoop, He can provide His presence, instruction, and insight for the journey. The best news is that He alone has the power and the authority to make all things new, to redeem our pain with the added bonus of a new level of maturity and a Christlike heart for others.

We have an earthly finish line of our own. God is coaching from His finish line and calling us into our future. One where He wants us to draw close and discover His heart for us.

When you find yourself sitting in the dust wondering if life will ever look the same, don’t be afraid. Dust in the right hands becomes something completely new with just one breath of life.

NOW LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!

These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession. 

This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.

• Have you ever had a travel nightmare? If so, why was it a nightmare?
• What did or would have made a difference for you?
• Have you ever experienced a time when your life felt like it was nothing but a pile of dust? If so, what happened?
• With regard to your dust moment, are you still there or have you made progress through your grief?
• Do you blame God for this dust moment? If so, why?
• Could God have done, or did He do, something for you that did or would have made a difference?
• What does your new beginning look like, OR what do you think a new beginning will look like?

Use God’s word to take control over the traumas in your life.  Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His word.

Here is a scripture for you to print, cut and carry with you and/or post in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!

“The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”—Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

Read God’s word and say to yourself: 

If God can create life out of a handful of dust, He can surely turn my life’s dust moments into something beautiful and with purpose.