Happy Monday and start of December! Here’s to a fresh new month and finishing the year off strong!
Grace and I are both part of RCF (Renewal Christian Fellowship), and as a community, we have been doing a Bible Verse Challenge where we share a Bible verse and some thoughts we have (ways God has been speaking to us through the verse) in our Facebook group, and then nominate a couple other people. I was a little nervous at first to write something and share with everyone, but actually really enjoyed the process of putting my thoughts into words and reflecting some more. So today I thought I would share what I shared in the RCF group. Just as a little preface, I wrote it with that audience in mind (which is why I might refer directly to the RCF community), and shared this in our Facebook group right before Thanksgiving. Yay! :)
Reflections on a verse - John 3:30
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
Since coming to college, I think God has really spoken to me through this verse, which has been on my mind a lot.
As much as I wish I didn’t, I think it is easy for me to get swept into the everyday troubles we have. I often find myself getting anxious over little things, like an upcoming quiz or assignment. I think this verse reminds me that His plan is so much larger and that He is so much greater than any of my small (but seemingly large in the moment) worries.
Or, in terms of social interactions, I often worry about if I’ve “messed up” in doing something or if I truly belong in a community. I’m not sure about you, but I can doubt myself/stress over something as small as sending a message in a group chat and often worry that I am burdening others. There have definitely been a lot of moments this semester where I have felt lonely or questioned my part in a community, but I think that’s one area where God has really been speaking to me and has grown me in ways I wouldn’t have imagined.
I have found I am so much more at peace than I ever would have thought being alone (reflecting in my room, etc.) (and as I write this I am thinking that I am never really alone as God is always with me). And I think this is because God has been with me through each of these moments and has a plan for each of us. I am trying more and more to understand what it means to draw strength from Him alone. But through it all, I trust in God’s plan. And I have realized that as much as I might wonder if I belong, many other people might too and feeling the love from a Christ-centered community might help bring them closer to Christ. So I think one way God has spoken to me is to really try and be welcoming and reach out to all. But I never want it to be about me, and I think this verse is so grounding in that sense, because I feel like it can be so easy to make it about ourselves. I want to help people feel welcome, but no matter what, I want it to be through Him and always remember that it is always because of and for Him. I never want it to be because I want to be known or for my own name (but I so often fear that I am falling into this yearning for validation). I really like this verse because it reminds me to focus on God’s glory and increasing His kingdom, and reminds me that I am one of His servants and everything around me (being at Penn, RCF, friendships) is a gift and blessing, not something that I “earned.” And this is something I want to always remember, even though sometimes it is easy for me to want validation. All glory to God! This verse reminds me that I am so so small and powerless compared to God.
I think when Frank and Shawn shared their testimonies at the Homecoming LG, one thing that definitely stuck out to me was the idea/sin of fearing God more than fearing man (and I know others have shared about this too). I realized that when I get nervous about community or what others think of me, I am fearing man, perhaps more than I am fearing God. When I hope for acknowledgement and validation, I am fearing man. I think it is easier for me to grasp the idea of how great God’s love is rather than how we should fear Him. But I don’t want to make my own idea of God in my mind, and only focus on the parts of God I might like. This verse reminds me to increase Him in all moments, and decrease myself, and ultimately, bring everything back to Him.
Another quick thought I want to share on this quote as I sit here at the airport this morning: Just recently I felt really lonely one night, and I just felt so empty and craving a sense of fulfillment. Someone ended up cancelling some plans, and a lot of people were busy, and I realized I just felt really sad and lonely. But I realized again in this moment that ultimately, I can’t rely on people for happiness/fulfillment, but only on God. Recently a friend told me that he struggled for a long time with what it really meant to live each moment surrendering everything to God, but that he understood it more when he wanted to start a Church while studying abroad but didn’t think it was possible; he realized it was only through God’s power that it could happen. I think while I felt so empty that night, I was grateful as I realized more how God brings peace during our suffering and that He is our only true sense of fulfillment.
Sorry this was kind of a jumble of thoughts (I’m definitely still learning and figuring things out) and pretty long and overdue. I also wanted to take this moment to share say how grateful and blessed I feel by the RCF fellowship and community. I feel like I’ve grown so much in Faith since coming to college and having brothers and sisters to run the race together has been one of the biggest blessings I could have ever imagined. So so grateful for you all.
Wow I want to share RCF with others and God’s love and word! And so, as Thanksgiving approaches, just thought I’d end with this verse: “I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1
Thank you all so much heh; love you all so so much <3
I would love to hear from you about your thoughts, experiences, favorite Bible verses, reflections on a Bible verse, and how God has been working in your life! Feel free to chat us through the site, Facebook, Instagram, or reach out to one of us personally!
All glory to God!
Saved by grace, through faith.
With love,
Joyce
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