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It was a photo of a waffle iron…
Her status update on the social media site said seven simple words about the picture:
“I want these two buttons for life.”
The buttons of reference were two settings: RESTART and A BIT MORE.
There it was – in stainless steel simplicity – the longings of a friend who has complicated challenges that were bravely alluded to. She’s a private person, so I was surprised by the honesty and courage of her post… even if she only intended to share her thought tongue-in-cheek.
I understood right away. The medical chains of her diagnosis now limit activities that used to be normal and easy for her.
It’s not fair. It’s not fun. It’s painful and it stinks.
My sister suffers from a similar health challenge. Though she rarely ever complains I see the discomfort when she winces, thinking no one is looking. And when she winces my heart aches with her because I know she’s hurting. And I hate that.
So, yeah, I get my friend’s post… and I share in her longings for a restart… for a bit more. Not just for her and for my sister – but for me too.
Because life is full of pain that stirs our hunger for something better. Something new. Something fresh. Something more. Something miraculous and full of promise. We want the hurts to stop and the healing to start.
We want God’s kingdom to come. Now.
For some the challenge is physical pain. For others it’s upside down finances, toxic relationships, depression, stressful employment (or unemployment), prodigal children, broken marriages, tangled feelings, or emotional emptiness.
If only we could overcome our trials by pushing a few buttons.
We do try, though. We try so hard to anesthetize our pain with things of this world, don’t we? With wine, with men, with shopping, with status, with service, with sleep, with eating, or even with working out… none of which point us in the direction to the more we long for.
The pressure drives us low, and burdens us with a weight that we are not meant to carry. And in the heaviness of it all, the Bible points to a hope that remains in Christ. When we call to the One who is all about restarts and more – His grace meets us there. In the pain. In the disappointment. In the bitterness. In the anger. In the hopelessness.
When the apostle Paul pleaded with God to make his life “more” by removing the thorn in his side, the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
I love God’s grace and am grateful for salvation. So grateful. But I wonder just how much of God’s strength, how much of His grace – how much of His more – goes untapped in my life because I simply fail to ask for it or because I don’t believe He actually cares enough to intervene. If His strength is made perfect in my weakness, as it was in Paul’s, then why do I often still feel weak?
Where’s the MORE I was meant for?
I wish there was a button to push.
Perhaps the strength God provides through His grace is about a lot more than my feelings and my failures. One thing I know for sure is that my emotions are unreliable. And I KNOW God! I know that He is faithful, He is always with me, His ways are higher and His thoughts are more comprehensive than mine. And I know He lifts my head when I’m downhearted and that His compassion for humanity – for you and me – is white hot like a flame.
The more we are meant for is not found in an empty bottle or a man’s arms. It’s not found in a clean medical chart or in that promotion at work. It’s not found in a home that shows like an HGTV showcase, in well behaved children, or on the buttons of a waffle iron – but in Jesus Christ.
HE took on death so you and I could take on life. A life of more.
God’s grace invites us to a restart that begins with repentance and faith. It is essential that we acknowledge the brokenness of sin in our lives and believe that Jesus came from heaven to bring forgiveness and hope to mankind.
Then after the restart, God calls each of His children to more.
HIS more.
A more that is fueled by His Spirit and embodied by Jesus himself.
Yes, you need grace. Yes, you need strength. Everyday.
But more than anything, you need JESUS.
HE is the more you are meant for.
Dear Lord,
You are who I need. Thank You for allowing me to experience a restart of grace because of Jesus. Bind my choices, my thoughts, my affections, and my longings to the more of You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE: Which button would you push today if you could? Leave a comment stating either, “RESTART” or “A BIT MORE.” Then pause to pray for and encourage others who responded.
Have an awesome day of more, friend!
Hugs and blessings,
GWEN
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Comments 47
Restart. Lord, please help me restart and live the way you want me to live. Because I just feel like I can’t go on in the one I have.
I need the restart button and yet I also need the A bit more button. I need to restart each day so that I can tackle whatever life throws my way and yet I need a bit more prayer, devotion to God, Bible reading.
I need the restart button….I have made some decisions in life that are not pleasing to God…Lord renew me and make me whole. Lord please help others in this same predicament.
Dealing with health issues, I totally understood this. I’ve been fighting depression – maybe from the meds? – and in the middle of the night I cried out for not only a “restart,” but for God to give me the strength for basic responsibilities. Your post encouraged me today … and I’m printing it out to re-read several times until I can embrace God’s grace for today.
I need the restart button, so many times I have made the wrong decision in my life and it’s like I am stuck in a rut. If I could only “restart”back about 20 years but instead of restarting my life I think I will restart my relationship with Jesus Chris instead, it’s so much more productive
I’ve often desired a restart button during my life. But now I realize the futility of that even if it were an option. I don’t want to go back and redo all those years again. I’m a broken person living in a broken world. Given the chance I would sin all over again. It’s only through my brokenness that I’ve come to realize how much I need God to live fully. Thank you Christ Jesus for restoring me, redeeming me, and for bringing salvation into the world!! Being restored, born again, now THAT’S a great ‘restart button’!! 😉
Restart button. After being separation and pending divorce after my 20 year marriage restarting my life again has been difficult.
I’m praying for God’s divine intervention in the lives of women who struggle to get their lives back on track. I pray that He touches each of our lives in a mighty way giving us those things that we stand in need of to stay in the fight. To God be all Glory. Amen
Oh, a restart please! The last 4 months I feel I am always treading with a strained relationship with at least one person close to me. Get out of one and start another. I bury so much pain and don’t always know how to just let it go. I have felt the pain of other’s anger and don’t care to give that back and meeting others with patience takes a toll. A private e-mail to my pastor turned into a lashing at the next sunday sermon! He means well, but it wasn’t the nurturing I was looking for. Prayers please!
Defitely “restart” because I know each day I let God down in some way and thankful He is a forgiving God and its a new hour, minute or day and I know I can restart and do the right things in His eyes.
A bit more!
A bit more! Knowledge, wisdom, hunger for Jesus!
Restart…because everyday is another chance for a new beginning. God is so faithful and reminds me of that every time my feet hit the floor in the mornings.
That “bit more” would be children. We have been trying for 8 years to have kids… Fertility treatments were unsuccessful. We have gone through the steps to adopt and are on a waiting list. All I have ever wanted in life is to be a wife and mom. It is so hard to wait on Gods timing. Especially when you feel like the ONLY couple your age with no kids. I have no one to talk to who understands.
In the end….. Yes! His grace is sufficient and I trust God completely, but that doesn’t always take the human emotion away.
I understand totally and completely. I can share a story of someone else who I witnessed go through this. They were married for years and had been trying to have children also. Yet, she was barren. They decided to make a move to another state due to a job change. Much to their surprise during the transition state, she got pregnant. God gave them twins and they are strong, well and healthy. Just know that God is always for more, and not for less. Try to stay encourages. He’s got your back.
RESTART! And more discernment as to what God is telling me and more drowning out of the evil one. He is so tricky, sometimes life just hurts so much. Turned the other cheek so many times that I’m dizzy!
I need a restart, I need to stand at the start line of life and strip off every weight that slows me down..I need to run with endurance the race God has set before me, in Jesus name.
Restart! Thank you! I needed that today.
Restart. Or on the computer, I love the undo function : )
Restart. Thank you Lord for not giving up on me. Help me to be the women you created me to be. To you be the glory.
Restart would definitely be my choice for 2015! It’s been a rough year but through it all I kept returning to Jesus grace, remembering I’m the child of God kept me going through many trials. I’m still in the midst of many of the trials but keep focusing on my blessings and call on Jesus for the strength to do his work and stop focusing on the things of this world. Thank you Gwen for using your gift to help myself and others remember that. God bless.
My button will definitely be RESTART!!! I have been around and through the valleys so much that I began to rely on myself instead of Jesus, my first love! It is easy to be swayed by the lull of the enemy with everyday life or your own abilities! My desire is whole ness and a second chance.
“RESTART”
RESTART
if I can’t have DO OVER, i’ll go with RESTART!!!
I remember lying in my room when I was in high school and writing in a journal to my future husband. I’d write all sorts of notecs and questions and things I’d wonder or ask this man when I eventually met him. I would wonder where he was and what he was doing and if he was thinking about me too. It has always been such a strong desire in my heart to find a wonderful man to marry, someone who would love me and cherish me and appreciate me for the person I am. I always thought I would get married right out of college, just like my parents, so when that plan didn’t work out, I started to get discouraged. A school mate snatched my future husband away from my arms just because she had spiritual powers, all hope was lost to me before i came across the help doctor (prayerstosaverelationship@gmail.com
) who i confided in, i told him my long story and he helped me regain back my lover with his prayers which is now my husband today. if you have any problem email the help doctor (prayerstosaverelationship@gmail.com
).
A Bit More Jesus,,,,And because of this, I move forward today
I need prayers for a “Restart” or maybe I should say, “direction to move forward” in the Lord’s plan for my life. I feel “lost” as to how to move forward in my life. Thank you for your prayers.
As I intially read the story and prayer, I thought I needed a “restart.” Upon more reflection, I wondered if a restart would take into account all that I have learned while on this journey and in this valley. I need a “a bit more!” More grace, more patience, more love for the sandpaper people in my life, as I’m sure I am or have been someone’s sandpaper person at some point.
I pray that each of receives exactly what we need in Christ Jesus.
I need a bit more Father!
Absolutely empowering and inspiring. Keep on shining for GOD; blessings!
I can relate to this
A bit more.
You know, I don’t think I’d push either button. I’ve had a lot of trials and this post has reminded me of them, but right now things are good…the way they’re supposed to be, I suppose. I’m content, thank The Lord.
This was so encouraging for me! Restart!
I needed to hear what you wrote. Having a hard relationship with a family member. Making it hard to love this person. I do not want to dislike this person but I think having this person in my life is not good. I need to step back, pray for this person and move forward. I need to RESTART. Thank you Gwen for writing what you did. God Bless You.
A bit of our Lord Jesus’ patience with the chronic illnesses that wreaking some havoc in my body.
Restart
Restart!!
A Bit More!
Happy Friday:) A Bit More! Ta DA
Amen, thank you! I need “A BIT MORE”.
I need A LITTLE BIT MORE! I just need my Father to keep on keeping me….a little bit more and little bit more!! And I know HE will!
A bit more.
Restart! Please pray this for me kind friend! God bless you!
Thanks so much for this . I need a bit more..
What a wonderful Friday post and prayer! I too wish for a ‘bit more’ and a ‘restart’. I feel that my ‘restarting’ each day is so very vital in growing from a baby Christian into a full blown prayer warrior. It was only after walking through the trials and storms of life that I learned how to love the Lord and be thankful during my times of uncertainty. Faith and God’s grace are the only things that kept me going. At first when I read your comment regarding the ‘restart’ I interpreted it to mean a ‘redo’ but my flesh was soon tamed when I think I heard that ever so soft voice say, “no silly, restart just means stop the path your on RIGHT where you are and turn right for your path is now leading you down an alternate route”. I took this to mean that a detour trip down an alternate route may be my restart route because of not obeying or ‘hearing’ the Lord’s previous request for me to act. It is getting easier to hear His voice during my day and it seems the more I walk down that path, the more blessings seem to be showered upon me. I can not wait to see how abundant my life can be as I keep honoring Him.
From the bottom of my heart, Gwen (and other ladies of GiG) thank you for helping me navigate my life in such a way that fills me with strength and guidance to bring up my daughter in a loving Christian home.
Kimberly