"After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice." ~ 1 Kings 19:12
No matter how positive we try to be, no matter how many thoughts we take captive, there's no denying, we live in strange times.
There are subterranean pressures we're not even aware of.
There are the concerns we do think about, but try to push down because we want to have faith, we're in denial, or we just don't have the spare bandwidth.
There's the human tendency to believe that what happened most recently (good, bad, or otherwise,) is going to happen again, and soon.
These days, that can be treacherous terrain.
Someone once said, may you live in interesting times. Well, my friends, we've got it. We're living history.
The way I see it, though we all have lists longer than we can even begin to grasp as we navigate our way forward from this fascinating season, we have two critical things to do, two places where we can place our focus... other than heavenward, that is.
In some ways, it's time to bootstrap it, figure some things out, to prepare ourselves for the unexpected, and maybe to toughen up a bit.
I don't want that to sound callus. It's just, that's what happens. We lift weights, the muscles tear, they get stronger, they toughen up. Our skin is exposed to something repeatedly, it becomes caloused. It toughens up.
That's the fabulous and miraculous design of our Creator.
In this case, we learn things. We step out in faith, moving forward. And, we toughen up.
The other and possibly even more important way...
It's time to take a deep breath. It's time to trust our Heavenly Father to be there to provide. And, it's time to lean into Him, to rest in His loving embrace.
He is Jehovah Jireh.
Yes?
I cannot tell you how many times He has shown up and shown off in my life, especially in the past 11 years with some form of provision or another.
Maybe a friend called to buy me lunch when I had a moment when it was very needed.
(If this story is unfamiliar, worry not, I'm planning to share more soon.)
And, more times than I can count, just the right amount of resources, in the final moment when needed most, would show up. Even and especially, it seemed when I was sure there were no more magic top hats from which God could pull a rabbit.
But, the thing is, all the top hats and all the rabbits in all the world are His.
It's manna. And, even though sometimes it feels like He waits until the bitter end, or it doesn't come when we want it to, we can trust in Him, lean into Him, and rest in His loving embrace.
And, in the moments of frustration and waiting, we can trust that He is training us up, strengthening us, molding us, and refining us.
In a time when clickbait and headlines use fear as a tool, in a time when we're presented with so many concerns on both micro and macro scales, we have an amazing opportunity to step into His grace and strength and peace.
That peace we so often hear about, the one that passes all understanding, is our superpower. It's our secret weapon in the world. And it's His promise to us.
On top of which, we get to show the world what it looks like to journey in His perfect peace.
May we continue to go out and face the day, each day under His new mercies, in His strength, walking out our purpose, knowing He is with us indeed.
Abba Father,
Thank You for helping us
... to trust You,
... to walk through this world in the Peace that passes all understanding,
... to be a shining example of one who has confidence in the Creator of the universe, that we might be Your light, step by step, breath by breath.
Thank You, for helping us to rest in Your loving embrace.
This we pray in Your most Holy Names.
Amen.
"In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land which You had sworn to give them." ~ Nehemiah 9:15
"Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him." ~ Psalm 62:5
"You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you." ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May the Good Lord bless you and keep you, friends... always, in all ways. Amen.
Bonus song of praise... ♥
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