Deep Waters

God has so many promises for His children. When i’m in trouble, I tend to search for those promises that tell me everything will be okay. But sometimes everything isn't “okay”. There is pain and suffering and sorrow in this world, and we are not always shielded from these things, even though the Almighty God of the Universe is our Father. Only God can answer the question “Why?” And sometimes it seems He is strangely silent. It says in Isaiah 55:8 that we cannot understand God’s ways--He looks at everything from a higher perspective.I have had moments of great joy in my life, when I have seen God do amazing things. I have also had times when I wondered, “Where are you, God?” For those times there is a special promise:

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2

Promise

From the Pit to the Palace

"So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory." Romans 8:15-17

Imagine that! With my little faith the size of a mustard seed, God took me from being alone--a slave to fear and despair--to being His adopted child. I now call Him "Abba" or Daddy. If I am His child, that makes Jesus my brother--He and I are heirs of God's glory! My Father is the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God of the Universe. He knows me and He knows my circumstances. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me. No more living in the pit--delivered from slavery to fear, false beliefs, and worries about the future. I am now a child of the King and my future includes living with Him in a mansion that Jesus Himself has prepared for me!

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:2-3

 

Finding Rest

"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Baggage Carrier

Got Bags?

Many of us spend our lifetime collecting baggage. It may start when we are young--a harsh word from a parent or teacher, a cruel nickname or label from a classmate or friend. Some have suffered betrayal or abuse at the hands of those they trusted. Others have had great losses--parents, siblings or friends that have died at a young age. Still others have experienced debilitating illnesses that may last their entire lifetime. It all adds up--those bags we have collected are heavy--they weigh us down and keep us from being all that God created us to be, from experiencing the fulfilling life that God intended us to have. But here’s the good news--In John 10:10, Jesus said this:

“My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

The truth is, Jesus wants you to put down those bags. He will take them away, IF you will choose to follow Him. What do you have to lose?

Leaving the Pit Behind

I had known about God since I was a little girl. But He wasn't real to me. I knew the story of Jesus’ birth and the story of His death and resurrection. I had always been taught that if I believed these things were true and was a good person, then God and I were on good terms. But when the crisis came, I found myself wondering “Where is He? Does He know about me and my circumstances?” I realized I didn't know Him at all. What I learned, at the age of 41, was that knowing about God was not the same as knowing Him. I thought I was good enough for God to accept me, but He showed me, through a series of events, that I was selfish, self-centered and yes--sinful. Jesus paid the price that I could not pay. If I could clean myself up, then He suffered for nothing. Only He could bridge the gap between a holy God and unholy me. I could never be good enough to stand in God’s presence without acknowledging that Jesus did for me what I could not do for myself--He made me acceptable in His Father’s eyes.