Reflection: Women’s Christmas Breakfast

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What a blessing it was to attend the Women’s Christmas Breakfast. The event didn’t fail to amaze with delicious food, pinterest-worthy decoration, and sweet fellowship with other women. The highlight was definitely hearing about how God has been working in two women’s lives. I was so touched by the testimonies of Joanne Lee and Ellen Sung and their vulnerability in sharing. It was so beautiful to hear the hope and joy they had in Christ in times of hardship, unknown circumstances, and sorrow. Both testimonies spoke on what true joy is and the all too true battle we face in filling ourselves up with counterfeit joys, yet the preciousness of trusting God when those counterfeit joys begin to be stripped away.

Hearing their testimonies reminded me of how hindering my earthly comforts can be. I am tricked by the circumstantial and fleeting and can be led to feel that having all of my comforts attended and provided for, will give me peace, and is all I really need. For me this can range from a lack or conflict, to having healthy family, to predictable social situations, to the satisfaction of materialistic items. With the ease of online shopping, it’s easy to get caught up, and end up from a “browse” to an adamant feeling of necessity and then the temporary satisfaction in the purchase. I’m reminded of what Pastor Kim says of how we become what we behold. Am I looking to Christ and seeing his beauty or seeing the glimmer of the fools gold of things like clothes or seemingly tension-free relationships from a lack of confrontation? I was encouraged by Joanne’s testimony of how God stripped away her dependence on circumstantial and emotional joy, so that she could learn to rest in God alone. In God’s redeeming love for me I have something firm, steadfast, and unceasing. God is greater than my circumstances and my understanding.

Even if there is not a current form of suffering, there are opportunities aplenty to take small steps everyday to choose to place my security and trust in God. I can choose to die to myself and find my hope in God when faced with that nervous feeling of going outside of my comfort zone. Philippians 4:7 says it perfectly – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I can be at peace by looking to Jesus and knowing that my greatest need and reality is met. What matters is not what I have control of, but what has already been done.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]If you would like to listen to the testimonies shared at the recent Women’s Christmas Breakfast, click here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]