It's puzzling picture

It's comforting to know that even the relatives of Jesus had questions and doubts.

In the perfect world, doubt and faith would not hold hands.  But we don't live in the perfect world.  And many days our doubts suffocate our faith.  We need fresh hope to cling to.

So did John, the Baptist.  I find great comfort that even he, who had walked with the Messiah, seen the outreach of Jesus' ministry, even witnessed Him heal the sick and blind, had questions about Jesus.  From his view behind bars, it was a puzzling situation.  

He doubted Jesus. He asked Him are you the "One" while he was in prison.

That comforts me in some strange way.  When he asked this question and sent it to Jesus, he was behind bars.  From his perspective, I wonder if he just needed a little reassurance that Jesus hadn't forgotten him.  

We all have doubts that we deal with.  On some days it's some days it's hard to quiet the questions.  

I learned to leverage doubt to the point of ignoring them and keep them at arms length.  Doubt only lulls my faith into a case of the Monday blues.  And my heart sinks a little to think that God would disappoint.

Doubt contradicts my faith, and I have to guard my heart and mind from anything choking my faith.

God can't disappoint us because it contradicts His character of faith, hope and love. 

People disappoint, but God never will. 

There are certainly situations we face that throw some hard hitting hurts our way.  I try to look at the bright side of those situations.  But it is hard when it's cancer and it side effects.  We have traveled through that storm a couple of times, and we have lived to tell about it.  God is faithful to never leave us in our storms alone.

I look for God in the middle of chronic pain.  He's there holding our hands on the hard days and provides rest and medicine that helps.  God is faithful to never leave us in our pain parties either.

I look for God in the sad and happy times of celebrating life moments when someone meets Jesus before us.  Their bodies have been restored to wholeness now.  That's certainly praiseworthy.

It's hard to see God's plan in tough life-altering situations from the lens of death, cancer and pain.  But there are reasons, and many times there is a bigger purpose than what is seen from a hurting perspective.

I am so thankful that God's sovereignty doesn't depend on my life circumstances because if there is anyone who DOES know what He is doing...it's God.

He has proven that I can trust Him with His faithfulness through ALL my days.  I just love Him for who He is and that He sticks with me when the going gets tough.

I couldn't do life on my own and so glad God planned that in advance.  

“Our faith is in God and not the outcome we want.”-Craig Groeschel

It is well with my soul.  

How has God used pain for your benefit?

Music Monday - {Gold}

Beckah Shae Standing Firm Like Gold

This week's pick for Music Monday is from Beckah Shea with "Gold".  Not only does the song have some really good beats but it beats truth into my mind when I hear it.  The one line that jumps out of the speakers is this one...

"This fire is makin’ me better, refined it don’t matter whether".

It's obvious to me that Beckah is familiar with trials and tribulations that befall most Christians.  Her perspective is honorable and admirable.  She wouldn't be talking about it, like it's a gold thing, unless God has revealed Himself through it.  

In this one line, I am reminded that it's worth it.  The journey of faith, whatever my circumstances has taught me more about God than I could have ever imagined.  That's the way God works.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7 

God loves to break us through whatever painful circumstances that come our way so that He can be our hero and either deliver us from our problems or show us how to fix the problem.  He wants us to trust Him to help us through.  He loves us so much that He knows we can't do this life on our own, so when everything falls apart, that's when he wants us to look to Him for help and deliverance, not to the patterns of this world.  He wants us to trust Him to provide or take care of or deliver us.  In doing just that He shows His mercy, grace and love.   He  brings His awesome to every situation and when invited into all of the details, He reveals His faithfulness.

I know..I have been there many times too.  I have suffered through many desert storms.  And through them, I do know God better and my trust has deepened because of the sand that pelts my face.  This life we call a joy-filled journey is exactly that.  Filled with moments of joyful experiences where I have walked and sometimes crawled to the feet of Jesus, and once there, I have found that He and only He is the oasis.  The hope that we have is that as we go through tough times, that God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He is there with us in His refining process.  And even though it hurts sometimes, it still makes us better, more like Christ.  Like gold.

Music Monday [Won't Let Me Go]

Jenny Simmons

I love this song! I don't know about yours...but my life sometimes seems like chaos.

Won't Let Me Go 

Welcome to my latest disaster
Same book just another chapter
Never thought it could be worse than last year
But here I am again today

I laugh cause it hurts when I scream
But I'll make it through cause I believe

That even when my heart breaks
And everything's shaking
I'm left alone in the rain
You won't, You won't, Won't
You won't let me go

Life's insane
And everything's crazy
You carry me through the pain
And You won't, You won't, Won't
You won't let me go
You won't let me go

Here we go it's a three ring circus
Juggling it all trying to find my purpose
With each new day
I'm praying just to make it through

When my next disaster is near
I know that You'll meet me right here
So I won't fear

Cause even when my heart breaks
And everything's shaking
I'm left alone in the rain
You won't, You won't, Won't
You won't let me go

Life can be a crazy-go-nuts-merry-go-round-circle-of-confusion.  And when I find myself buying a ticket to get on, I know that there's only One who won't let go.  I never know what kind of pain and heartache this journey holds, but I am pressing forward to know God.  I am held in the grip of His grace and He won't let go.  

BIG P.S.  Check this out NOW!!!!