Jesu Juva.

How do I even begin to comprehend what is going on in our nation and our world?  Murder, sickness, rage, division, people verbally and physically attacking one another.  Humans against humans.

I think back to 2019, one of the best years of my life.  And then I compare 2019 with 2020, and my first thought is: “2020 is just so…ugh.  Can we go ahead and wad it up and flush it down the toilet?”

But then, God reminds me…  He is still in control.  None of this has taken God by surprise.  The Lord is still with us, because He never leaves nor forsakes.  The Lord is our refuge, our hiding place, our song of deliverance.  The Lord is the peace that surpasses understanding; He is Joy through the storms and struggles of life.  He is the All-Sufficient One.

And then I know that, as a child of God, even though I cannot run away from the struggles of life, I can run to Him, my safe place.  I can cry out to my Savior and give Him my burdens and have faith that He is merciful and also just.  And maybe, the brokenness in our world has helped me and is helping me to grow closer to Him and to rest upon His promises, knowing full well that this world is not my home and that this time spent on this earth is a race of endurance, and He is my ever-present Help.

Who will be glorified, who will still be on His throne when the last chapter of this world is written, and the final period has been placed?  The LORD of Hosts.  The Light of the world.  The Great I AM.  The Creator of all things.  El Shaddai, God Almighty and the All-Sufficient One.

He is reminding me that He is sufficient.  He is all we need.  He is all I will ever need.

Right now, He is giving me a broken heart for those who are lost and for those who are hurting.  Jesus weeps when we weep!  I’ve found myself trying to suppress tears throughout the days in thinking about the brokenness of our world.  That broken heart comes from Him, and I am thankful for it!

I pray that this year, more eyes will be open to His grace, His love, His Truth, His power, and His knowledge.

We are not always made to understand why we all must face certain struggles.  But we are meant to always understand that the victory that has overcome the world is our faith (I John 5:4) in who God is and in what His Word says.  If Christ hadn’t rescued me; if He had not shown me that I desperately need Him; if I did not know that He is the All-Sufficient One, I would never have experienced His joy through the storms and struggles, nor would I have His peace amidst the chaos.

Oh Father, reveal Yourself to the lost.  Draw near to the broken.  May Your children cling to You and yearn for more of You.  May the Body of Christ continue drawing the Water from Your endless well of Life and scattering seeds of Your Truth.  And may we never forget that the only reason we are able to love others, is because “You first loved us” (I John 4:19).

Soli Deo Gloria.

“…We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” –Romans 8:28

“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 the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.”                                        –I Thessalonians 4:16-17

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” –Psalm 32:7

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” –Matthew 6:33