Music Monday: “I Believe” by Phil Wickham
By: Debbie Waltz
I completed my entry for Lighthouse Magazine and sent it in last week. It’s ironic that the magazine’s theme of overcoming obstacles resonates so strongly with me, considering my disability. People generally see me as inspirational because of how I handle things with a smile.
It’s not easy, let me tell you.
My smiles are usually sincere. Sometimes though, I find myself pasting on a fake smile simply because I need time processing my feelings before expressing them to others. It’s akin to pretending we’re alright when we’re actually not feeling that way. That’s where I’ve been struggling a bit lately. I’m attempting to comprehend the rejections I’ve been experiencing recently. Granted, the newsletter is slowly but surely gaining subscribers. But I still wonder why my book isn’t compelling enough for agents or publishers.
Believe me, it’s not about the money. However, some additional assistance would be appreciated by a person with a disability. The goal is to feel productive by contributing daily to the disabled community and highlighting areas needing reform. My hope is that by publishing my novel, I can help people realize they aren’t the only ones dealing with difficulties in life. They are seen. They are important. They matter.
But then, I’m reminded of something. My life is now dedicated to God, not myself. Though God still cares about our desires, we are supposed to be his instruments spreading hope to the world around us. As 1 Peter 3:14- 16 reminds us “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
I’ll repeat that. We do not live for ourselves anymore. Yes, we still live in a sinful and broken world, but we do not have to be held captive by it anymore. God is with us; he is in us. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Our churches’ current study of Hebrews reveals how Christ’s arrival revolutionized our situation. Why? Christ is the one who fulfills the roles of both our high priest, who intercedes on our behalf, and also serves as a substitutionary atonement for us. This makes the covenant of the Old Testament obsolete. Consequently, there is no further requirement for animal sacrifices because Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross covered all sins of humankind, encompassing those from the past, the present, and those yet to come.