Mind The Gap!!

Recently I was in London visiting a good friend of mine. I love London, it's a great city. There's so much history to soak in, so many people to watch, massive amounts of food to enjoy... And then there's the traffic! Ugh, if it wasn't for the London traffic and the crazy London driving, it would be an even better place. But, the cool thing about London, is that to avoid the ridiculous amounts of grid locked roads, they have an underground. Genius idea! Now, if you've ever visited London, you most certainly would have experienced the London Underground. A fast railway system, under ground, enabling multiple passengers to get from A to B, and complete their journeys faster than they would have if they drove around the city.

There is a term that is associated with the London Underground, and it is so well known that its been printed on t.shirts, key rings, coasters and posters. The term is "Mind the Gap". Sometimes, you may even hear "Please, mind the gap"!

I remember going to London as a child and going on the underground. I was scared, there were so many people, it was hot, and you'd turn a corner, and almost get blown over by the strong wind. But the thing that made me most nervous, back then, was the huge gap between the station platform and the train. As a little girl, the gap looked massive. Surely I would need a bridge to cross that?! I was a tiny little girl, and back then I had a lot of fears, so it didn't help when I saw a big sign that said "Mind the Gap". Especially when I realised the words were circled in bold red! I knew red meant danger.

We were created in the image of God, all of us, whether we believe it or not. [So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 NLT]. God created us because He wanted to be in relationship with us. Therefore, until we invite Jesus Christ into our lives, there is a gap. A missing piece. So often when people come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour, they realise that the hole that was in their heart has finally be filled. As humans, we don't like to admit that we have a missing piece to our lives. We so often portray the image that we are fine, our life is all together, "there's nothing wrong with me" mentality. 

The thing is, even after we have invited Jesus into our lives, we still go through stuff! Bad things happen to good people [far too often for my liking]. But part of life is walking through the bad times, as well as the good. We go through seasons, sometimes we may loose stuff, sometimes we get wounded, knocked down even, we may face abuse or betrayal, we may be surrounded by confusion and doubt, anxiety and insecurity. We go through a lot in life, and there is the potential for us to fill the 'gaps' with stuff. And when I mean 'gaps' I'm talking about the disappointments and broken places of our hearts. The areas that we like to keep hidden from the world, because at the end of the day, "we are fine thank you very much, and we don't need help". 

So often, in life, people begin to fill the 'gaps' with stuff. It may be alcohol, bad relationships, sex, drugs, video games, excess spending. Something's in life are not wrong, it's how and what we are using them for that is the problem. I've known people to self medicate with excessive amounts of alcohol, and excessive hours on violent video games, they are trying to fill the gaps of their life, fix the broken pieces of their heart, but doing this only creates more problems for their internal world. I have watched people who are lonely rush into marrying the wrong person, to find out five years and 3 children down the line that they are more lonely than ever. I've had friends who overspend and buy every new gadget that is ever created, trying to find fulfilment in life, only to find themselves in debt due to overspending. I've seen people become obsessive over the latest diet, offering to loose weight in record time, only to find themselves still depressed when they've met their goal for weight loss. As human beings, we need to be needed, we need to be completely know, and we need to be unconditionally loved. We can get so much satisfaction and enjoyment from healthy relationships and a healthy lifestyle, but in the end, the only thing and person that will completely meet all our needs, is Jesus.

"Mind the gap" is an audible or visual warning phrase issued to rail passengers to take caution while crossing the gap between the train door and the station platform. I believe that God is telling us to "mind the gap". I believe He says, "don't fill your life with stuff that is only temporary, things that have no value or importance, don't be fooled by get-rich-quick schemes, don't keep looking around you waiting for the next relationship, the job promotion, the next thing, instead, be content in Me. I want you to have fullness of life, but I want you to let Me have priority in your life. You'll only be able to achieve all that I have destined for you if you let Me be Lord of your heart, if you allow Me to meet all your needs, and fill all the gaps".

I wouldn't have been able to fight the battles I have fought, and come through the fire without being burnt, if Jesus was not the centre of my life. He is the One who fills my gaps. He meets all my needs, no human being can do that, and if we are expecting our job, our spouse, our bank account, or our family to completely fulfil us, then we're setting ourselves up for massive disappointments. God is the only one who can completely fill all the gaps in our life. He knows us better than anyone, He made us after all ;) 

So, whatever you are facing in life right now, I pray that you would be brave enough to invite God into every area of your life and every part of your heart. Let Him meet your needs and fill your gaps. I promise you, life will get better if you do. You will walk in a greater sense of purpose, you will experience freedom and wholeness in a way that makes you want to run faster. You will achieve more, love more, forgive more, give more, and live your life to the absolute fullest.

Please, mind the gap :-) xxx