“God, when will it end? When will I WIN? WHERE are you?”
These are phrases I have said more times than I can count. Phrases brought on by constant “no’s”, consistent trials and loses, consistently seeing others chosen over me, consistently getting the bad end of the stick, and stagnancy. You feel constantly beaten down and like you can’t gasp for air. During times like this, you can’t help but feel completely forgotten by God. Going through this season was and is one of the toughest seasons I have battled. But luckily, God still speaks in the midst of it. Even through the silence we may feel from Him. Here are a few constant reminders God gave me during this time through my friends, mentors, His signs, and His word.
Be Still and Know That He is God
Sometimes we get so consumed with what’s not going right or what’s not happening for us, that we start to move frantically and take things into our own hands. We try to grasp some sense of control to make us feel a little better. But really, sometimes God is asking us to release and just be still. See, when we try to take the reins, we aren’t letting God be God so He can do what He does best: Work for our GOOD. We aren’t allowing Him the control to work in our lives because deep down, we don’t have the faith that it will work out. At least that’s what I felt inside. But God is always –ALWAYS– working for us and our good and sometimes we have to release that control and let Him open the doors or bring that blessing we have been fervently praying for. We have to always remember that we KNOW He is God and He is more than capable to do it and is faithful to His word. Be still and let Him move for you.
He is Still With us and Protecting us
Isaiah 43: 2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”. There will be trials and tribulations in our lives. It’s not always going to be perfect sailing. We will have waves that will shake us, but we won’t fall. we have the best protector of all on our side: God. If we keep our eyes on Him, just as Psalms 16:8 says, we won’t be shaken with Him at our right hand.
A Parent Can’t Forget Their Child
This is one verse to cling to. Isaiah 49: 15-16 reads,
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”
My best friend sent this verse to me as a constant reminder of how God’s love surpasses the immense love we feel of a parent. While our earthly parents love us, that love cannot compare to how our heavenly Father loves us. Even though a parent can forget their child, the ultimate Parent can’t: God. God is the one who formed every intricacy of us. He can’t just forget us, He hasn’t, and NEVER will.
Remain Confident in the God You Serve
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”- Psalm 27: 13-14
Whenever I would read this verse, I would promise myself to find something throughout my day that is good. Something that would help me to continue to push on and be confident in this Word. It could have been just being thankful for another day that I woke up, to a kind gesture by a stranger, or that my food tasted exceptionally good that day. You get the picture. Finding some goodness to cling on helped me continue to be confident in this: if something small or as “mundane” as my fast food order tasting great and it showed me the goodness of God, then God can, will and is continuing to work and bring the “big” good things that you’re waiting on as well. I know it’s tough to see the goodness of God and trust in His word during moments when there seems to be nothing tangible. But, that is what faith is– believing in the unseen and unknown. God is faithful to keep his word and He will not refuse us when we ask Him. He won’t refuse you when you ask him to help you remember that He hasn’t forgotten you. God calls us by name and we are HIS. You are not forgotten.
It Will Be Well,
E
Comments