When it’s hard to understand - "No One But You" God
gives us true hope.
We don’t have to have life figured out. We can’t figure it out. We can find comfort in just breathing the next breath as a gift. And then the next...
I’ve recently been learning to build strength in my body and manage fibromyalgia through yoga. This practice reminds me of the truth God taught me a long time ago...live in this very moment, live in the presence of our amazing God - right now.
One way we can be present with Him is to soak in His love letter to us. That's what I'm sharing today, His Words to our hearts.
I'm not sharing my specifics of my story today, only enough to say, God does redeem all the hard...and will be redeeming the hard until heaven. I know that each of us have a story. My hope is to encourage you today.
He is faithful to turn many sorrows into many strengths, each time building our faith muscle. The strength often comes slowly. Just like the muscles we build through exercise, consistent effort builds a lasting foundation. Like a faithful coach, our God faithfully listens and leans into our areas of need. Even the things we don't understand, He addresses. He says, "See I am doing a new thing" in you. And He is FAITHFUL! “He who calls you is faithful, he also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
I just found myself surrendering to His flow today, unrushed, I fell into His gentle lead. The passages that follow speak to the confused hearts, the broken hearts, the hopeful hearts. The hearts that need to know it's OK not to know. The peace that truly comes from above. The gift. And only He could have tied these passages together for me today.
EUCHARISTEO is greek for thanksgiving. Charis means grace and within that word, Chara means joy.
At the Last Supper, Jesus broke bread and gave thanks - Eucharisteo. I have this permanently on my arm to remind me what Jesus did for me on the cross. It helps me to look to find thanks in all things.
He gave thanks, right before He took on my sin, to give me His righteousness. Will I ever comprehend it? Never! Not in its all its fullness. But He has taught me this:
“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”
Psalms 116:2
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JOB and all that’s confusing!
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Job:
“But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for. Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze? No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success.”
Job 6:11-13
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.”
Job 19:25
God:
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
Job 38:4-7
Job 38-41 declare the Almighty Works of God
“Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
Job 40:1-2
Job:
“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”
Job 40:4-5
“Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.
I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
Job 42:1-3, 6
God:
“The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning...”
Job 42:12
Promises in Isaiah
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“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! ...Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”
The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
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Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:1, 3-5, 8, 10-13, 26, 28-31
Comfort through Jesus
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“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”
John 1:1, 4-5, 14, 18
Comfort from the Spirit
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“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”
Romans 8:26 NLT
Comfort from the Father
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“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1 NLT
In the meantime
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“He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need... “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist..."
Acts of the Apostles 17:24-28
The best part, the hope of heaven
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“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”
Revelation 21:3-7
EMMANUEL - God with us. NOW!
Awake My Soul, Hillsong Worship
(I do not own the rights to this song)
No One But You, Hillsong Worship
(I do not own the rights to this song)
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