Recently I went with my sister to get matching tattoos. This was something we wanted to do for a while and not a last minute decision. Because they are forever, I recommend intense consideration and deep thought beforehand. I am not one of those Christians that are opposed to tattoos (obviously). I think, just like anything else, your motives for your actions are what’s important. Immoral actions are obviously something different altogether. But in general, those everyday life choices that aren’t necessarily discussed in the Bible are between you and Holy Spirit. I am not your conscious or your Holy Ghost. He leads and guides into all truth. Not me. OK. Glad we’re clear.
You must know that whenever I get a tattoo, it usually translates to a life message the Lord is working in me, or will work in me for a lifetime. The hope anchor tattoo on my foot was just one outward way the Lord sealed a message in my heart that would be proclaimed until I lay down my life. It has since translated into a battle I fight often with hopelessness.
So, like I said, about two weeks ago we went to get matching sister tats. It was going to be a small tattoo of the ASL sign for ‘I love you.’ We both wanted to also get individual tattoos at the same time. This decision also came after much thought from both of us.
I’ve always been the type of person who needed, or at least wanted, a plan. I have a very type A personality. So, after getting saved in college, this character trait did translate into the Kingdom. However, God is not obliged to give us His plan. He decides what revelation or information we receive. I think we play a part in that too, but mainly, He is the all-knowing One and knows what we can handle. As a young Christian, I would often pray for direction, that I would know what the Lord wanted me to do and be able to choose according to His will. The prayer itself was not a bad one. But it was based in a fear of failure. God is so aware of us, our personalities, His plans for us, our quirks, etc., that He planned for every decision we would every make, good or bad. And the awesome part is His love is the same.
For months, I have wanted a compass tattooed on my heart. My early compulsion to know the right way has evolved into a desire to know my own path and calling from the perspective of knowing who I am and why the Lord created me. I think it is vital to know ourselves, our boundaries, our desires and also to know exactly how the Lord feels about us. There are obvious flaws and weaknesses that we are all too familiar with. There is no escaping ourselves, except maybe through denial, which is NOT recommended. These personal imperfections should not make us devalue ourselves. I find that I have to guard my heart against condemnation when I learn something else about myself that isn’t Christ-like. While He is forgiving of me, I deal with the challenge to be as forgiving of myself.
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| Compass symbol tattooed on my heart by Pat at Red Octopus Tattoos |
So, this bloody compass (insert British accent)… I love it. I looks awesome. The tattoo artist did a great job. But the inner work that has accompanied it has been sobering and scary. For me, it’s been a season of great transition to the point where I’m in an unfamiliar area and feeling a bit lost. While I sense His presence a little more than I did before this move, I still am quite unsure of what lies ahead. This makes me so uncomfortable and has shown me areas of distrust in my heart towards God.
We all have various challenges in our walk with Him. Those more laid back folks that primarily frolic through the tulips may find greater difficulty in knowing and following a plan. Nobody’s grass is greener per say. It’s just different.
My encouragement to those reading today would be that in your season of transition, God has not forgotten you and STILL knows His plans for you. They are good plans and contain good things. He has a future planned for you that you actually desire for yourself (Jeremiah 29;11). Also know that in your battles, mentally, spiritually or physically, what you are actually fighting is the belief of a lie or lies. Let me explain. So for me, the lies I’m fighting against are: I’m lost; I have no direction; God is not aware of me or what I’m going through; God doesn’t care what I’m going through; (AND THE BIGGEST LIE EVER) God doesn’t love me. Usually trials are just a battle of what you choose to believe.
So as my great friend Eve Hemby once told me, “When you don’t have faith, take hope. When there appears to be no hope, rest in His love for you.”
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| Picture via Pinterest. Getting lost with God only means you don't know where you're going. He does. |
