Never Alone

September 11th. It’s been 17 years since we woke up that morning. We sat in complete silence as we watched planes fly into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and crash into a field in Pennsylvania. Our hearts ached for a reason. A reason for why this was happening. 

We experience many things in our lifetime, some good and some bad.  It's how we react and respond to these experiences that make us who we are.  Sometimes it's hard to get through the hard times, but it is in the brokenness within us that beauty comes.  Even in the fragile cracks of our lives, an amazing and beautiful experience can come from it.  We learn through our mistakes, through our trials, and yes, through our pain.

Many lives changed that day, in ways we couldn’t have imagined. We never know how the day is going to turn out, we have no idea what tomorrow holds for us, and we aren’t supposed to. We are just supposed to live in this moment. We have this incredible opportunity to be a light in the lives of others. To show who we live for and who we put our faith and trust in. When bad things happen, sometimes we get quiet and want to hide away but if we hide it’s more difficult to seek the help we need to heal. When we enter into a relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus, we are filled with His Holy Spirit, we are given an overwhelming peace to get us through our difficult times. It’s through this relationship that we can heal, that we can tell others about how we are healing and our faith. The road is not always going to be easy and more often than not it’s the most difficult road to travel, but in the end we are going to see the reason for it all, the reason we went through all that we did, and through all the tears we cried we just may cry tears of joy as we kept our faith and trusted in The One who has never left our side. 

“because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.”‭‭ 2 John‬ ‭1:2-3 NLT

Let’s live in the truth, live in the light, and even though bad things happen, we can take heart that something good is on its way. When we wait through the hard times, when we wait through tradegy, when we wait through what we fear the most, we can look forward to the beautiful thing that awaits us. 

My prayer is that we hold tight in this wait.  Hold tight to our faith in times of trial and loss.  Our story is continually being written and just like a best-selling novel, there is a rise and fall, but more often there is an ending that comes out of the blue, catches us by surprise, and leaves us completely in awe, never expecting what was coming.

It's in those still, quiet moments in our lives that we hear from God.  When we take time to slow down and really listen.  Time to reflect and time to renew our strength with The One who gave us strength. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and it's all about timing, the perfect timing.  It's in the wait that God is building our strength, our character, our story.  The waiting is the hard part, but how great will it be to say that I waited for this moment, I waited for God's perfect timing for me, and when that time came it would be so much better than I could have ever even imagined it would be.

"Now all the glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or think." Ephesians 3:20

Blessings

The Bigger Picture

“I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me, take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.”
(Oceans – Hillsong)

Eyes swollen, tear-stained pages of my journal, my Bible underlined, written on and highlighted, scared of the next step and determined to conquer the world at the same time.  I’ve felt this strong feeling for a while, I’m ready, show me where to go from here.

In a season of waiting it can be difficult when all life tends to throw at you is the word no, not yet, later, hold on, etc.  It can be utterly discouraging and emotionally exhausting.  I thought you said I was ready, why are you making me wait? Can you even hear me?

If you ask me, it’s the word that most of us have despised since the moment we first heard it.  That word that disgusts us because we know we are not getting what we really want. As hard as it may seem to fathom, as much as we want to fight against it with all our might, just maybe that “no” is temporary.  A simple no doesn’t always mean forever, it quite possibly may be no for a season, a matter of protection to keep our heart pure, and potentially protect us from a bigger rejection or hurt.  God does know the perfect time to say yes, but as much as I hate to admit it, I still want to sulk into my pillow and scream when I hear the word no from something I really wanted or I think I am ready for.

“Have mercy on my, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. 
My body and soul are withering away.” Psalm 31:9

In a season of waiting I always tend to think of David.  This was a man who was least considered in his family.  I bet he thought nothing good would come from his existence.  He was despised and rejected for much of his life.  Someone who was chosen last but still kept going. Despite several failed attempts at life, David was still known as a man who was devoted to God.  Much like all of us, we fail from day to day.  It’s when we realize where we fell and turn to our Savior to help us back up.  We can’t do it alone and we don’t have to, even though it may seem like it at times.

Father God, when I feel like giving up, help me put my trust in You, my God, my strength when I am weak, my Comforter when I am scared, my Protector.  Help me keep my eyes on you and know that you are with me in times of trouble and I’m afraid.

“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.” Psalm 119:114

Blessings,