Dear Reader
Dear Reader,
Thank you for going on this writing challenge with me. Thank you for the encouragements and inspiring words you have offered along the way. Thank you for your kindness and gentleness when I shared some of the deepest parts of my heart. Thank you for connecting and participating on this journey. Thank you for putting up with poor grammar and spelling mistakes. I write these quickly and with many distractions. I am deeply grateful for the response.I feel affirmed that there is a deep need for voices sharing stories of hardships written during the dark years-stories that don’t have a neat and tidy ending, stories that the fight is real and the desire to grow through that struggle is practical and tangible. Stories that hinge on Jesus showing up and changing everything when nothing that the eye can see actually changes. I think it is tempting to think “if I just learn the lesson my circumstances will change.” I have thought this many times. I have often been reminded of the story of Jospeh. Despite clear calling he suffered severe and tragic rejection from his brothers, despite faithfully serving Potipher, he was thrown into prison, despite interpreting a man’s dream and asking to be remembered when the man was free from prison, Jospeh was forgotten. It would seem God had forgotten Joseph. Not forgotten but saved. Jospeh said, “what you intended for evil, God intended for good, for the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50. God was doing something much greater. Tim Keller says that “if we could see from God’s perspective we would never ask for anything to change.” Dear Reader, let’s remember these words for THIS time. God is doing something that we cannot comprehend or imagine. He is good and he is faithful despite our circumstances. He is Emmanuel, God with us, entering into our pain, providing a space to be undone before him and holding us close despite the darkness of thought and heart. He whispers love and grace into our ears, surrounds us with understanding and compassion, whether we see it or not, pursuing me and you with a grace so deep and wide we can barley understand a fraction of its depth. I dare us to make a choice to list out 10 things we are grateful for. And reread the list once an hour, every hour. Gratitude is a powerful weapon God gives to shine light on the darkest of days. I dare us to sing out his praises today despite what we currently feel. Worship is a powerful weapon he gives that silences the voices of guilt and shame and allows his voice to cut through the noise in our hearts and minds. Will these practices change our circumstances…probably not. Will they change our hearts? Absolutely. It may take days, weeks, for me it has taken years to begin to see growth…Let us be ones who take ownership, not casting blame on others or circumstances. Let us be people who look to God whether that be with a mighty declaration or just simply standing/kneeing or crumpling down at his feet. Listen, he calls you and I…”Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
…………………………………………………………..
“May God bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.” Numbers 6:24
