Our Life Can Be Gloriously B.I.G.

How often do we consider the fragility of our life? I remember the day I was diagnosed with melanoma. I thought, “Wow, death may be knocking—MUCH sooner than I thought!” I remember when I was about 30 weeks pregnant and the doctor told me my unborn baby girl was dying. I felt unspeakable sorrow and hopelessness as I carried that sweet girl for five more weeks until her little heart finally stopped beating and she went to be with Jesus. But, my friend, during both of these times I experienced God’s presence like I’ve never seen Him before! Over and over—He has proven to be the Hero of my story. He continues to demonstrate how tragedy can make my life gloriously B.I.G., that is, “Better In God!” 😜

Now don’t laugh at my corny acronym! 

I’m old-school. The older I get, the more I need creative ways to remember the lessons God teaches me. Most of you have heard of The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher George Latore Wallace), a talented rapper whose life was pockmarked by terrible violence and then—tragic murder at the young age of 24. The message of his life and his music lives on today. But what message? Does the central message of his short, very talented life—point others to what really matters? Right now, God is reminding me, “What about you, Kimberly? What is the message of YOUR life that will live on after you are gone? Is it how much money you made? Is it how many people you impressed with your brains, talent, sense of humor, or skill as an attorney???” Today, if he were here, I wonder what Christopher George Latore Wallace would say about what really matters.

My friend, one tragedy can radically change our life forever, and sometimes—it is one of the best things that can happen to us because it refocuses us on what is important—before it is too late for us to change.

Hard times are often one of our best opportunities to show OTHERS what God looks like, but they are also OUR opportunity to watch God work. IF WE ALLOW HIM—He transforms our way of thinking about hardship. For example, the strong sense of God’s presence when I was diagnosed with cancer didn’t make me more afraid of dying; rather, it made me more curious about my REAL purpose for LIVING. 

Knowing God, allows us to put hardship in perspective for a greater purpose.

Hardship can teach us how to live B.I.G. You see, we often live SMALL because we don’t allow God to show us how to live B.I.G. Cancer is just one of many hard times that God has used to give me a reality check, or a “reality re-check,” if you will. I don’t want to waste ANY of the time I have on this earth working to gain tenuous, world-based prosperity! I want God to teach me how to live B.I.G. for HIS eternal glory! I’m so grateful that Paul the Apostle allowed us to see the stark struggle of his own struggle with infirmities. He didn’t like to suffer either, and so naturally, he asked God to take away his trouble. But Jesus said in response:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

And so, Paul wisely responded:

“Therefore most gladly I will rather BOAST in my infirmities, that the POWER of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take PLEASURE in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ‬‬

2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV

Remarkable. But this is the amazing perspective that God’s presence gives us. The harder things get, the more we know how real He is because the more we know just how little control we have over anything. We long to live glorifying God, because we know that we are living in HIS strength—even if we are facing death. A bullet can end my physical life; but it can’t kill the message of God’s power and glory which WILL live on after I’m gone. Only I can do that when I succumb to the lies of my enemies.

When we live for God’s glory, even our death will ignite a brilliant afterglow which will continue to shine the presence of Jesus into the lives of others.

I am asking God to give me a life that represents Him. A message that shouts, “Life is gloriously B.I.G.” If you are reading this devotional, you have been given the precious gift of life. It doesn’t matter how many tragedies you’ve had—you are alive! You are not in hell. If you have been born again, you CAN live in God’s glorious purpose and experience a taste of heaven on earth—even during your greatest trouble. People are watching. Today is your opportunity to share the best message we have—the Gospel—which is the power of God unto salvation.

When the presence of God in our life is our greatest desire, He shines through us and our life makes a gloriously B.I.G. difference. 

In God’s presence, we know we are unconditionally loved and we glow with that love. He gives us a song inside even in the hardest times. The Psalmist wrote, 

“If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’ your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. The Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.”

(Psalms‬ ‭94:17-19, 22‬)

No hardship is EVER greater than God; rather it is another opportunity to live gloriously B.I.G.

We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.

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