Sifted and Shifted

I’ve found myself praying this season away more than I care to share. It’s just too heavy. Too much doubt. Too much questioning. Too much frustration. Too much begging. Too much time needing to be filled with tasks to keep from thinking.

Then the road came to a fork. Circumstances didn’t change, but something shifted.

Pain turned to pressing

Regret became repentance

Sifting turned to sanctification

War became fought with worship not with worry

Control turned to carried

Goals became His glory

Isolation became intercession

Awful became awe-full

His presence became everything! Holy Spirit moved! Hope was found in my deepest trench! A robe of righteousness was draped over my filth.

Again and again…He meets me in my mess, in my repeated struggles. Takes me just as I am, but doesn’t leave me there! I’m guided, comforted, reminded, and convicted!

He alters me at the altar each time I lay my crowns down! Even after I picked them back up 900 more times! 

But, although His gift of grace is free…I have a responsibility - to be obedient. To desire to be holy, to love like Him, to seek Him, to forgive like Him, to share my testimony, to share His good news!

Imagine….

Feeling broken, but yet made whole

Weighed down by grief, but finding joy

Hearing whispers that “you’re unloved”, but yet knowing you’re chosen and unfathomably loved

Entirely empty, but overflowing with gratitude

Weak, yet strong

Overwhelmed, yet able to be at peace

Feeling low, but yet choosing to sit at His feet

That’s my Jesus…your Jesus… He is alone worthy! He alone deserves the praise! He alone can turn what we thought we could only imagine into reality.

I am far from having any of this figured out, but thankfully…I know where my help comes from! He holds my faith. He is my hope. He is my all in all. My Yahweh!

I don’t have to wait for heaven; heaven can get brought right here to earth - in the midst of chaos!

His plan, His Word, His life, His suffering, His blood, His death, His victory….

All for a sinner like me. For a sinner like you. Just to be with us!

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer" - Psalm 19:14