So much happens to
us, doesn't it? We wake each day never knowing what will happen in the next
breath we take. By the time we exhale life could change forever. In the time it
takes us to blink the phone can ring and news is brought to our ears that causes
shakes us to the core.
What is it we say?
"God, why? I can't do this. I don't want this. Please, no, God".
Being believers doesn't make us stronger people, it's that we have access to the One who is. We are frail and weak just as
the next. It's through our weakness that God's strength is poured out upon us. We know our God is in control. We believe He loves us. We trust His
ways. We don't understand them, but we trust Him to do what is best for us.
Does that make it easier for us when tragedy earthquakes into our life?
We all have heard
people say, and might I add, at the wrong opportunity, "God never puts on
us more than we can handle". Friends, it doesn't say that in scripture. In
fact, the opposite is pretty much the truth. It isn't that we are made so strong
that we can handle anything. It is the fact that our God is. Through Jesus we
find intercession. Through Jesus we find hands that reach out to us. Arms that
hold us throughout the night. A Spirit that guides us to living a life
surrendering to Him. It's the moment we realize we can't do it that Jesus steps
in and says, "Yes, through Me you can. I have given you every gift and
have filled you with everything you need for this life and all it contains.
Through Me you will not only live but you will find new life.
How is it that we
do that? Finding new life in the middle of trial? When it comes down to it what
else are we going to do? We could give up. We could try on our own merits. I
have found what this world has to offer is of no measure of what my Savior can do.
He has foreseen the
trial. He was preparing the road before us. Friends, He was already there,
waiting for us. That should give us great comfort. When we find ourselves in
anger, screaming at the top of our capacity, He is there. When we fall to our
knees with no more muscle to carry the load, He is there to make a way. He's
there to say, "My child, let Me".
"Therefore, since we have been declared righteous
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also
obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we
rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice
in our afflictions because we know that affliction produces endurance,
endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This
hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our
hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:1-5
See, we can have
peace because of ALL that Jesus has done, is doing, and will do for us. As
believers we can know that our life is secure in Him. No matter what happens He
isn't leaving us. We have an all access pass to Jesus. We are free to enter
into His presence at any time. Oh, the grace in that! I find myself so
undeserving of all He gives me, but so wanting of all He has to give.
This has been a go
to verse for me. It is a favorite of mine. So much here for us to carry away.
If He gave His all for us before we ever knew Him, how much more is He willing
to do now in our intimate relationship with Him? He loved us before we ever loved
Him. He prepared the way for us to come to know Him and now He continues
through each and every circumstance that touches our lives. Only Jesus can
bring beauty from ash. Only Jesus can know what was, what is, and what is to
come. This is our hope!
"Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud
of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so
easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the
joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down
at the right hand of God's throne." Hebrews 12:1-2
We are to keep our eyes on Jesus. We are to run toward Him. The race isn't easy. Ask any runner training for a marathon. But He is there guiding each step, helping us take a breath, and giving us the strength for the journey. Friends, the journey may be long, but once we are face to face with our Savior, when our feet have met heaven's gates, it will have all been worth it. God wastes nothing. Nothing is just happenstance. There is no such coincidence. Through each moment of our lives God has purpose.
Friend, I don't
know what you're facing today, but know that you are not alone. You may not
have all the answers. That's okay. Our God does. You may not know what's
coming. Our God does. He has prepared in advance to give you everything you
need. You are equipped with the best of the best.
We
don't just have to muddle through. We don't have to fear the winds and waves of
the storm. We don't have to journey lost and empty. He will make a way.
Tomorrow has been prepared for you in advance. Look to Him. Ask Him for your
greatest need and expect from Him nothing less than a Father would give to His
beloved child.
