Coming forth from our pain will emerge a deeper trust in God. . . a beauty we can not even imagine. Even though we can't see Him or at times even understand what we're going through, we can always look around us and see His beautiful handiwork. His creation speaks and gives confirmation that He sees us, knows our hearts, and is aware of our pain.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes,
No matter where we are or how we feel, He is there. We are never out of the tender reach of His hand. It brings comfort to me knowing I'm never out of His reach and always on His mind and in His heart. As His child, I can never be removed from His strength, support, and the comfort of His presence. Thank You, Father, for Your tender mercies. They are new every morning.
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Every moment is a unique place we’ve never been. The familiar becomes the unfamiliar. Trusting our unchanging God when we’re traveling uncharted territory is vital to finding hope. Sorrow, suffering, brokenness, are all an inevitable part of our journey. We could not know love without loss and sorrow, joy without suffering, and peace (wholeness) without brokenness.
When you're trying to find your way through the messy road of hurt, cling to what you know is true—-we have an unchanging God. That doesn’t mean the road of hurt to healing and hope is going to be easy; it will more than likely be a messy journey full of detours. And your journey is not going to be like someone else’s—-it’s a personal journey with a personal, loving God traveling the road with you. I wish there were five easy steps to no longer feel your pain, but there’s no such thing. What you do have are cross-shaped blazes marking the way to finding hope, reminding you of the truths found in God’s Word. Christ is your hope of glory, your hope for healing and peace. Based upon the truths found in God’s GPS system (His Word), I can promise you, you will get through this. He is with you because He doesn't leave you to walk this journey alone. Grief tempts us to walk alone because it’s raw and messy and we don’t want to be seen as weak. Fight against that temptation to walk the trail alone. Walk knowing He is with you and ask Him to bring godly friends to walk beside you on this path to healing. They will be “Jesus with skin on’ as you journey through the messy paths of life.
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; f
or why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance, we wait eagerly for it.” Romans 8:24,25
There I stood on the riverbank of the Tellico River, totally enthralled by the glow of the setting sun. It’s luminescence created a pageantry of translucent colors dancing on the trees. The slow moving waters below mirrored the splendor until a gentle breeze captivated some of the dancers and whirled them downward where they became immersed in the reflection of their former glory. Their final waltz in the gentle waters brought them to my feet at the river’s edge, completely submerged, still looking straight into the eyes of their Creator.
I found myself wanting to identify with the journey of those submerged leaves. In every season, they had a purpose in the cycle of life. They did not try to fight their way out of the place they now found themselves. They just continued to reflect His glory. Trials come in all shapes, sizes, and seasons. It’s not up to me to demand answers from God every step of the way. My response is to be so fixated upon the One who created me that I will find joy in the depths of each trial. Every song He sings over me, whether in a major or minor key, is part of the dance of faith that is meant to produce a willing obedience to follow His lead as He waltz’s me homeward. The fluid motions of faith find me dancing in the arms of my Father. He pulls me in even closer to the intimate chambers of His heart–a place where I encounter unexplainable, uncanny joy. . . and in that moment, I found peace.
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. . .
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:2-4,12
The world seems to be spinning out of control lately. Change can be harsh at times and create mounting tensions. I believe there will be hard days ahead for the inhabitants of this old world.
But this one thing I know for sure: Because Jesus overcame the world, the troubles of this world will not destroy us. Our "normal" ways of life may be over, but He's making all things new. As my friend, Ann Voskamp, reminded me, we have unwavering peace today when an uncertain tomorrow is trusted to an unchanging God. Today, I choose to trust. I choose peace. I choose joy. And tomorrow when I wake up, it will be another today, and I will choose to trust. I will choose peace. I will choose joy. My life is in His hands. I will trust in knowing He is carrying me through and lead me every step of the way. I have hope in an unchanging God. "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
For those times in your life when you feel like you can "bearly" make it through the day... remember you can trust Him to see you through. Cry out before Him and He will answer. Like a parent lifting the head of a weeping child, He will lift your head and look you in the eyes and say, "It's gonna be alright. I got this. Now just calm down and catch your breath. Trust me." Salvation belongs to the LORD.
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