What Movie Title Describes Your Life?

I started Life Coaching Classes at Light University Online, and a question asked in the video lecture was what movie title describes your life including a TV series or Book title?

At first I could think of at least 10 movies I identified with, but currently? After thinking about it for a while, I remembered that my favorite movie of 2013 surprised me.

Iron Man 3.

I am typically drawn to the chick flicks or a drama that makes me cry (don’t judge me). And -- I didn’t even realize Iron Man 3 was my favorite movie until the very last line. Tony Stark aka Iron Man said,

“You can take away my suits, you can take away my home, but there’s one thing you can never take away from me: I am Iron Man[1].”

That’s like saying,

 “It doesn’t matter what I have or don’t have in my life right now. But, it doesn’t matter because I am bold and courageous!”

When situations in life don’t turn out the way we think or expect -- it’s easy to think it’s a reflection on us and our character instead of a call for bravery.

Like everything is our fault.

Like we’re messed up so bad that it’s not worth living anymore.

Maybe you don’t feel good enough because of something that happened to you. Like Tony Stark, it’s usually a bad thing to lose your career and your house in one day. Seriously, right? Obviously.

But it wasn’t.

Tony knew he was lucky to be alive. He knew the cost of fighting against evil. As Christians, it surprises me how little we remember this. We, too, are in a battle of good versus evil until Jesus comes back.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).

We need to remember that our life will never be perfect. We will forever battle. It’s how we react to that forms boldness and courage that helps us launch through transition into the next season of blessing.

And like Tony, we may never know until the last line.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go" (Joshua 1:6-7, NIV).

So why do I think Iron Man 3 currently describes my life? Because I know what it's like to work and tinker on my dreams only to see them all come crashing down around me.

I'm still standing.

I'm still okay.

Actually, I'm even better for it! Because, like Tony -- I have a new heart.

It's through the lost of everything I held so dearly that freed me to be the person God created me to be: transformed & unashamed!

I'm not meant to have a stony heart of sin. I'm meant to have a new and flourishing heart. 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26, NIV).

I wrote in Dream Devotional,

"Without the hard times, we wouldn't desire to encourage others as much. No message to share. No heart for ministry. No compassion for our friends. Although you may already know this, I hope it is another reminder not to give up hope."

You can take away my books, you can take away my home, but there's one thing you can't take away from me: I am a child of God.

Question: What TV, movie, or book title describes you currently? Why?

[1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300854/quotes?qt=qt1923036