Right now, I'm living in a season of adversity, and it's like I'm living out in the desert. I feel alone at times, but truthfully I'm never really alone. God is always with me and I've never been alone once in my life. I may not can see him now, but He has always had a bigger picture for my life. Not only that, but He has a bigger plan set in place to redeem me. I may face trials that shake me to my core, but I will never be separated from Him—not if I keep my eyes fixed firmly on Jesus.
If you ask anyone who's dealt with their fair share of valleys in their life with chaos and heartbreak, then they'll probably tell you that while it was a difficult chapter, they saw God moving in their hearts and in their character more than ever. I can say that's true for the two years it took for me to find a job after college graduation. I sent out countless resumes and went on interview after interview but I didn't give up on God's plan for me or on myself. He came through with the perfect job for me that was right for those 5 years of my life.
So, now God's plan for me involves 'waiting'. Anyone who knows me knows that waiting is not my strong suit. I'm impatient, to say it mildly. When we go through a long, hard season where we feel like God is distant, we don't know what His big-picture plan is. We simply have to trust and move forward the best we can. God knows what He was doing back then, so why don't I trust in His plan for me now? Because, I have to be still and know that He is God, not I.
"It's often those moments of obscurity and doubt that we come face to face with God Himself."
"If we've learned anything about God, is that He makes beauty out of our brokenness."
"When God makes a promise, He never forgets."
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision,“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” ~ Genesis 15:1-3
Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. ~ Genesis 15:4-6
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire-pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadiof Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” ~ Genesis 15:17-19
"If we remember the story of Abraham and Sarah, this is the perfect example of a couple navigating the "desert" of life. They had previously been promised by God that they would be fruitful and blessed. After years and years of infertility, Abraham and Sarah must have been wrestling with all those tough emotions. Guilt, doubt, despair, anger, loneliness. Still, they continued to hold on to hope and wait on the Lord."
What a great story of waiting and a promise fulfilled. When my time 'in the desert' is over, I will come out stronger and He will have blessed me beyond my imagination. I just have to cling to my faith, my hope and my trust in Him. Whether I'm on a mountain or in a valley, God is worthy of my praise in every season of this life. God always knows what He is doing and God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good.
