Emmanuel is not just for December

Photo credit:  WhitA

Do you ever have those days when God seems a 1000 miles away?

Our pride puts this distance between us and God. These times make me feel stretched and torn. I like to think God and I are really close.

He is.   He hasn't left.  He never distanced our hearts.

God is with us. Immanuel is not just for December.

There are times when my faith roars like a fierce waterfall, other times when it gently flows like a babbling brook. Grace gently trickling over my soul. Healing waters that sooth and comfort the rocks of life. Days full of swift waters that surge with turbulence, swirling and licking at my ankles.

God's firm foundation grips me steady. Unshakable. Holds. I know He is with me.

"We can trust our God
He knows what He's doing
Though it might hurt now
We won't be ruined
It might seem there's an ocean in between
But He's holding onto you and me
...And He's never gonna leave" ~ Love & the Outcome

Do you trust God when the waters of life get turbulent? Our love for God anchors us deep in His Truth that when those swift currents rise, they will bring blessing to our brokenness.

Are you at water's edge, looking at some swift currents?  On what firm foundation do you stand?

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." 

What comfort to know that the turbulence won't take us under. God is with us no matter what.

He is with us, we can trust His Hope anchor. We won't be consumed. He holds us. On any given day when troubled oceans are flowing high or when gentle streams trickle and tickle our toes, let your feet dangle a bit in His healing grace.

Let me linger here remembering my Foundation at this water's edge.   

"And I will call upon Your name, And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters, Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide, where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now" ~ Hillsong United

Faith means trusting forward

Faith means trusting forward what will only make sense in reverse.

"Perfect faith is the faith that moves us to trust God even when it seems as though God isn't moving". - Andy Stanley

My mind fills with an awkward silent sighs and I wonder. In those quiet moments, I have some worrisome thoughts. My heart just wants to see and understand. Does my wonder really do any good? “You can’t see it in person," hisses the enemy. It's true somewhat...I don't see the results. The work that God is doing is hidden for now.

There are days when I feel I don't accomplish much. I think about how I should be doing something more tangible–serving at a community food kitchen, distributing groceries, hugging the African littles, something, anything where I can feel progress or see a forward motion. There are days I get hung up on needing to see and feel the results. I know that need isn't right. In my wishful thinking I want to see overwhelming approval. I know that is wrong too.

I just need more faith.

What I really desire is evidence of something more tangible. I whispered to Jesus as darkness filled my early morning. “Are you sure God, I am so afraid!” He has laid something on my heart, a challenge to write something that I have never done before. It's a task of great undertaking. I have never ventured this far out of my comfort zone before.  This project brings fear into my heart, it makes my palms sweaty. And I don't know how it's going to turn out. And besides that, who am I to write it? I am nothing special.

Then... this verse rises into my heart…

Faith is being sure of what we hope for 
and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

I’ve always thought of those words in the context of believing in Jesus but not in seeing results or the unseen faith things. On that morning it seemed liked there was something more He wanted to teach me. What God is calling me to do is just to be faithful.  To simply obey what He is asking of me.  What He wants of me is to act justly...and offer obedience in return. The results of the task are His business. He is the one making the difference. He is the One building my faith. He is the One who makes results come about. The One Who Loves whispers into the fear in my heart and the parts of my faith and speaks directly to my obedience.

It’s not about the results, it’s about my obedience.

Faith is believing. Faith is sure. Sure of hopes, dreams for the God-matters in this world.
Faith leaps, bounds and builds. Faith fans the flames of inspiration.
Faith is certain.

Faith is the evidence of what we do not see…even in our adversities, difficulties, uncertainties, and trials. 

Faith anchors us to the unseen. Only God knows the pricks, the folds and the imprints that are made. 

Faith in God writes His wonders on our hearts.
Faith measures what matters. It calls to the faithful. Faith submits, follows and obeys.
Faith makes a difference and changes.

Faith hears God whispering back saying…"submit…trust…obey". 

Faith is working the unseen things together for your good.
The I AM is taking care of the rest, the results. Keep the faith. Hold on. Pray for deeper faith. Pray for perfect faith. 

With the results unseen, it's beautiful obedience.

"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” 

~ Oswald Chambers

What's a hard thing God has asked you to do? Did you do it?