{"id":6634,"date":"2025-01-12T16:10:54","date_gmt":"2025-01-12T21:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6634"},"modified":"2025-01-13T17:03:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T22:03:17","slug":"completed-2-2-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6634","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) Experiencing Completeness in Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m feeling undone. I\u2019m overwhelmed. The pains and cares of life seek to pull me under. Heart ache, people I love hurting, brokenness surrounds me. I feel detached from my Prince of Peace, my Life, my Glory, my Hope, my Source of Joy, the Lifter of my Head.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s close to midnight, but I decide to take a prayer walk. In times like this, I turn to prayer walks and getaways as my way of pulling back from everything to be alone with God.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t always remember to surrender my troubles to God. Far too often I forget that apart from Him I can do nothing. [1] I forge ahead in my strength, striving to fix my life, leaving carnage all around. Relying on me instead of God is always a bad choice.<\/p>\n

Leaving my driveway, I turn left, ascending towards Highway 6. I pry my grubby fingers off of each angst and deliver them one by one to my Father. I think of Peter\u2019s words when he tells us to cast our anxiety upon God because He cares for us. [2]<\/p>\n

Sometimes I can forget God is trustworthy. He has my best interest in mind. With my words, I release every care to my Good Father. Turning my palms upward, I peer into the cloudless, starry night.<\/p>\n

I cross the highway and enter a dead-end road, which completes my walk out.<\/p>\n

I hear a sound. Four deer, who were grazing in an open field, scamper away. God\u2019s creation is all around. A small, wooded cul-de-sac boomerangs me back toward home.<\/p>\n

As much as it\u2019s in my ability to do so, I\u2019ve surrendered all my burdens. As I cross the highway again, I sense peace. The problems seem overshadowed by the Lord\u2019s nearness.<\/p>\n

I ponder the marvels of being God\u2019s son. A verse comes to mind.<\/p>\n

Complete in Christ<\/span><\/h3>\n

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made<\/em> complete [filled to the brim, fully accomplished, perfect], and He is the head over all rule and authority; (Colossians 2:9-10).<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In the verse, Paul says I\u2019m complete in Christ. In Him, I\u2019m rendered perfect in every conceivable way. I\u2019m filled to the brim and overflowing with Christ, needing nothing.<\/p>\n

The imagery is stunning.<\/p>\n

As I descend the hill toward home, I marvel at the ramifications of this truth. If He\u2019s filled me, what else do I really need? Do I need people to respect me and honor me? Do I need earthly security? Do I need smooth circumstances? As I ask, I know the answer.<\/p>\n

If I\u2019m filled to overflowing with Jesus, which I am, only one concern remains: loving others as He\u2019s loved me. All the pressure\u2019s off. Jesus lives in me. As I yield, as I abide, He loves through me. This is my only concern. He\u2019s taken off my plate the need to always be looking after me.<\/p>\n

As John the Baptist said<\/span>, \u201cI must decrease, and He must increase.\u201d (John 3:30)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Walking it Out\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

I know this is not the end of my journey with tough feelings. If God blesses me with more days, I\u2019ll face more physical and emotional pain. People I love will lose jobs, suffer illnesses, and face broken relationships. I\u2019ll continue to experience my own trials.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jesus said, \u201cI have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.\u201d (John 6:33 NIV<\/strong>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus has overcome the world. I\u2019m in union with Him. He\u2019s in me and I\u2019m in Him. In Christ, I\u2019m forgiven, loved, accomplished, righteous, valued. I’m complete in every way.<\/p>\n

Walking out from here involves remembering Christ\u2019s nearness and completeness, no matter what I face and no matter how I feel.<\/p>\n

Challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

What do you need to surrender unto the Lord\u2019s care this moment? In what areas do you feel lacking?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Call out to Christ and ask Him to give you an awareness of your completeness in Him. Walk in it. Experience the freedom of being filled to the brim with Him.<\/p>\n

Rest in Christ and His undying lovingkindness toward you. He is your all.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Take a prayer walk.<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/h3>\n

Lord, what an amazing realization. Releasing my cares to You, I\u2019m aware of Your nearness and my completeness in You. Please help me not to take back those angsts I\u2019ve delivered to You. My completeness comes from You.<\/em><\/p>\n

Empower me to worship You, Rest in You, depend upon You and love like You.<\/em><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>[1]<\/a> John 15:5<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> I Peter 4:7<\/p>\n

Photo generated by AI<\/p>\n

Other posts in our series<\/span> In the Moments<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What is Good<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet Will I Rejoice<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Exploring Grace and Joy together<\/a><\/p>\n

Stay Present My Friends<\/a><\/p>\n

Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cake Maker’s Blunder<\/a><\/p>\n

God at Work (No Trespassing)<\/a><\/p>\n

Hidden with Christ in God<\/a><\/p>\n

Finding Joy in Love and Relationships<\/a><\/p>\n

Escaping the Rat Race<\/a><\/p>\n

When I don’t Feel God’s Loving Kindness<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
Robby Buck<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m feeling undone. I\u2019m overwhelmed. The pains and cares of life seek to pull me under. Heart ache, people I love hurting, brokenness surrounds me. I feel detached from my Prince of Peace, my Life, my Glory, my Hope, my Source of Joy, the Lifter of my Head.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s close to midnight, but I decide to take a prayer walk. In times like this, I turn to prayer walks and getaways as my way of pulling back from everything to be alone with God.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t always remember to surrender my troubles to God. Far too often I forget that apart from Him I can do nothing. [1] I forge ahead in my strength, striving to fix my life, leaving carnage all around. Relying on me instead of God is always a bad choice.<\/p>\n

Leaving my driveway, I turn left, ascending towards Highway 6. I pry my grubby fingers off of each angst and deliver them one by one to my Father. I think of Peter\u2019s words when he tells us to cast our anxiety upon God because He cares for us. [2] <\/p>\n

Sometimes I can forget God is trustworthy. He has my best interest in mind. With my words, I release every care to my Good Father. Turning my palms upward, I peer into the cloudless, starry night.<\/p>\n

I cross the highway and enter a dead-end road, which completes my walk out.<\/p>\n

I hear a sound. Four deer, who were grazing in an open field, scamper away. God\u2019s creation is all around. A small, wooded cul-de-sac boomerangs me back toward home.<\/p>\n

As much as it\u2019s in my ability to do so, I\u2019ve surrendered all my burdens. As I cross the highway again, I sense peace. The problems seem overshadowed by the Lord\u2019s nearness.<\/p>\n

I ponder the marvels of being God\u2019s son.<\/p>\n

A verse comes to mind.<\/p>\n

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; (Colossians 2:9-10).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[583,601],"tags":[41,2926,1667,599,3327,587,578,3325,584,849,3326,590,3333,3329,2085,592,588,595,594,3328,586,123,96,600,20,134,305,3331,7,75,589,99,1256,3324,596,561,89,575,237,1482,597,593,46,194,591,585,3332,3330,598],"class_list":["post-6634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nothing-else-needed","category-peace-that-passess-understanding","tag-abide","tag-accomplished","tag-adopted-son","tag-angsts","tag-bad-choice","tag-brokenness","tag-burdens","tag-cloudless-night","tag-colossians-29-10","tag-complete-in-christ","tag-dead-end-road","tag-deer","tag-depend","tag-earthly-security","tag-forgiven","tag-fully-accomplished","tag-glory","tag-god-cares","tag-god-is-trustworthy","tag-grazing","tag-heartache","tag-his-righteousness","tag-hope","tag-i-peter-47","tag-jesus","tag-john-155","tag-john-330","tag-john-633","tag-joy","tag-life","tag-lifter-of-my-head","tag-love","tag-loved-by-god","tag-midnight","tag-needing-nothing","tag-overwhelmed","tag-prayer","tag-prayer-walks","tag-prince-of-peace","tag-problems","tag-redered-perfect","tag-release-cares","tag-rest","tag-smooth-circumstances","tag-striving","tag-undone","tag-valued","tag-walking-it-out","tag-yield"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6634"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7024,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6634\/revisions\/7024"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}