With all Your Heart – Joy Series Part 2

I can do all things through Christ^[  who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

I don’t know if the character, Forrest Gump was meant to be portrayed as a believer in Jesus Christ. But I do know that Forrest displays a child-like enthusiasm, zest, and joy for life that reminds me so much of what Christ encourages us to emulate in life.

I wish I could be like Forrest in most of what he does in the movie. Wouldn’t that be AWESOME?!  Everything he did, he did with all his heart, all his focus, all his elbow grease that he could muster. And much of what he touched just seemed to turn to gold.

Forrest displays a joy and love for life – the ups, the downs, the in-betweens. He lives moment-by-moment, giving each second all that he has. This is what makes him such a magical and lovable character. That inner joy. That purity. That innocence of spirit. Being like a child, but working harder than most adults I know.

Let’s be like Forrest when we endeavor to try new things that may, at first, appear difficult for us. Let’s try and believe we can do it, and shrug it off when it doesn’t quite go our way.

If after giving it our very best, we can move on to the next piece of chocolate in the box.

Running towards Jesus.

Because He is the box. Unlike the chocolates contained within it, He is what holds it all together – He is unchanging. He is our stability.

Notice: Forrest holds tightly to the box throughout the movie. He may let the feather float and fly at the end, but that box was the common thread that held it all together – truly.

God has it all under control. It’s not up to random chance or luck; the things that we experience in life. We have only to hold onto Him all the way through.

At the end of this life, our earthly experiences may float away like a feather in the wind, but we shall still be held tightly in His arms if we have followed after Him and accepted Him as our Savior. And we shall reside with Him for all eternity.

If there is something today you feel is difficult for you to do, just try to give it your all like Forrest Gump. But remember to ask Jesus for the power to do so.

Then, we can ALL be true winners of the sweetness in Christ we were meant to savor all along the way!

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