(email to a friend)
I was reading Psalm 91 this morning and I’m sending you my NIV and Passion Translation. I hear your heart and Daddy says,
“I am for you and not against you. I love you and I am stretching my hand over all the mess and speaking my peace that surpasses understanding (Phil 4:7 but verses all around are lovely). I have this covered and I am calling you to join me. Your protection is with me. Do not go out alone, stay with me and watch and see what I do for you and for my glory.
This is too big for you but too big for you is just right for me. Watch and see! It will be better than you can imagine. Trust me more and believe me more and watch and see what I am up to. It is good, really, really, really good.”
This is the way the Lord speaks to me, and I put this in quotes because I very strongly felt this for you from the Lord. I know with every bit of my being that He is faithful, and He will take you through this fire unscathed. I know He wants you to be with him, not ahead or out where he isn’t, but with Him, in that odd to the world but completely on point for the Kingdom place, of resting in His presence, hearing His whispers over you that assure you of who He is and who you are and how much He loves you.
I know from years of crazy that circumstances lie and God wants my eyes on Him and how BIG He is. He has totally and completely got this! Choose to believe even when everything screams because that choice, a million times a day on some days, is all He really asks.
“Choose me, my way. I have got this!”
Choose “be still and know that I am God”.
It confounds and confuses many and the flesh doesn’t like it often but that is God’s way, upside down and inside out. It’s what He does. No matter what I see, He knows. He has a way. And it is good.
I had a picture in my mind a while back of pineapple upside down cake. When you see it in the oven it looks like plain cake, regular old plain cake. But then it flips, and it is gooey, buttery, sugary yum. This is what God wants you to hear. We the created see what we know, what we feel, what we think, what we believe. And the lie is lodged, sometimes deeply, that it is all up to us. God the Creator says no. I am more than enough and better than you expect.
I can say from firsthand experience, often very, very different than my plan or idea, but every single time, He has been faithful and taken very, very good care of me! And He is doing the very same for you right now, even when you can’t see it, discern it, feel it or even fully believe it in every area! He wins every single time.
So, my precious friend, without an ounce of condemnation but rather, overflowing with love and encouragement, I am celebrating with you that He is taking you to a precious place of more trust and more belief and more peace and more rest and more love. He loves you so much and He is with you and for you. Watch and see. It is going to be beautiful. I am praying for your strength from Him, to stand in the storm with your face turned toward His and that you are full overflowing with hope in Him for your future and the beauty He sees today just exactly how you are with Him in hard places. He is so incredibly proud of you!
I love you and I am praying for you all! (end of email)
And God reminds me again,
Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
This is your way Lord, blessing others with our blessings. Transparency leads to multiplying your good works when we are sharing the stories. This is what you do when we are exhorting others. It is beauty from ashes, turning mourning to joy. And it is beautiful. Nothing wasted. All for your glory Lord. Thank you, Lord, for your perfect way.
Excerpt from Truth In Hard Places