Day 5

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

—JOHN 10:10

God is calling us to wake up. Many of you, like myself, have spent many months or even years sleep-walking, numb to everything, including the voice of God in our lives. For some of you, perhaps even for most of you, trauma from your past has caused you to numb out and, although you still have a heartbeat, you are painfully aware that you are not fully alive. The stark reality is that few of us are truly living in the truth of what Jesus says: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Sadly, as we look at the pile of dead dreams and disappointments heaped around us, many of our lives echo more the devil’s plan “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

My life for the last 10 years, spiritually speaking, hasn’t resembled this “full life” Jesus talks about. I was numb, I was sleep-walking, and my guilt at the wasted years was eating me up inside. Maybe this feeling of being crippled by guilt is a feeling familiar to you. Things you’ve done that you shouldn’t have, things you should have done that you didn’t, things that other people did to you—all of these things have caused you to tap out, to retreat, to hide. You’re going through the motions, and on the outside you might look okay, but inside you know you’ve lost your way.

My prayer for you today is that you would hear the voice of your gentle saviour calling you back—out of numbness into the hope-filled future that He has planned for you.

I know what you are thinking. That there is too much weight on your shoulders and that waking up and walking on just seems too hard.

But remember that you do not have to walk alone.

Hear today the voice of Jesus saying to you:

“Arise... come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come... Arise... come with me” (Song of Songs 2:10-14).

It is time to wake up and walk on.