What am I doing here?

Have you ever asked yourself? What am I doing here?
Well, my friend, you're not alone.
All of us at one time or another go through periods of doubt or regret. Fear, unfortunately, finds its way into our hearts at a young age, and like a hereditary disease, it is not easily overcome. So ingrained is it in our everyday way of thinking, that when we see one who has overcome their fear or exhibits little or no sign of fear, preforming acts of fearlessness, we think them demented or delusional! In fact, fear is so effective at what it does that, we're become a society that fears not being afraid!
It has been argued that one would be wise to have a "healthy amount of fear" in certain situations, for instance, fearing a ferocious lion, or perhaps traveling at an uncontrolled high rate of speed, or even, fear the Lord. However, in those situations, is one expected to be afraid to the point of loss of bodily or emotional control? No. Fear in these situations is best described as applied wisdom. Attempting to understanding a thing, then observing appropriate boundaries, that might be a definition of "healthy fear".
None the less, we still find ourselves, from time to time, straining to move from day to day. I know I do. So what is one to do? The answer is found in a little letter to a group of struggling believers in Rome.
In Paul's letter to the called out in Rome, he describes the kind of relationship we as believers in Christ Jesus, share with our Father.
Romans 8: 35-39 (NIV)
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So then, what is one to do when feeling despondent, gloomy, or desperate? Look to heaven, Listen to the Spirit, and know that you are embarrassed by a loving Father waiting to comfort you, both with His love and the arms of fellow believers, then go ahead and take a shot at life. As flawed beings we may not always hit the target. So what! Triumph and joy are not determined by how many times we hit the target or get it right, they are found in the trying.

Hoping you have a blessed day-

- Uncle Lane