The past several months have been incredibly hard for my family. We've had to learn to trust the Lord in some really dark places. We've shed many tears, and lost a lot of sleep. We've asked "why?" over and over. We've been fearful, and at times extremely angry.
It's been a long, hard season of life for us. I'd love to share the details of all that has been happening, but the bulk of it just isn't my story to tell. Maybe one day my daughter will give me permission to share, but for now, the Lord continues to write her story. I see so clearly how He is orchestrating areas of her life to use her story in a mighty way. Little pieces keep falling into place, and I don't even think she is fully aware of how He's preparing her for something big. I don't know what that is or even what it's going to look like exactly, but I do know it's going to be a beautiful picture of God's unending grace and mercy.
Beauty for ashes.
Reflecting back over the past several months I am overwhelmed at just how much the Lord loves us. We truly are blessed. Yes, it's been a heart wrenching season. A season of life that has put callouses on our knees, but it's been a season where we've been shown how the Lord provides for us in so many ways. Provisions we don't even see until the moment is long past.
Once again, we've seen how blessed we are to have the friends the Lord has provided for us. Friends who have prayed for us and WITH us. Friends who have held us while we have wept, listened silently while we vented our frustrations and have reminded us the Lord is faithful and won't abandon us. They have literally walked every step of the past few months with us.
They have been such a beautiful picture of the hands and feet of Jesus. Loving us in precious ways throughout such difficult days. Sacrificing their time and energy. We are so blessed to have friends who are trustworthy. Friends we don't have pretend to that everything is "fine" or "okay". We can be real and honest. We can trust them with our hearts.
Trust can be so delicate. It's so easily broken at times, and once it's broken it can be harder to rebuild than it was to earn it . I don't trust easily, and once it's broken it's near impossible to rebuild it with me. I am so grateful we have friends who are trustworthy.
God never promised life would be easy. He promised He would never leave us. He promised to love us through it.
He is the most trustworthy. He will carry us through this season when we are too weary and tired to walk, and He will use all of this for our good and His glory.
Right now it looks like a big pile of ashes. One day it will be a beautiful picture of His love, grace and mercy. Our tears won't be from broken hearts. They will be tears of joy.
To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” ~ Isaiah 61:3
"God is always good, and I am always loved." This is a quote from a Ann Voskamp bible study I lead at the beginning of this year. A quote I have repeated in my heart a million times over.
Even in a hard season ... a season I pray ends soon ... we are so blessed. God is good, and we are loved ... a love we don't even deserve.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~ Romans 12:12
Glad you're back! Your honest writing is always a blessing, and your faith, on which you always fall back in the darkest hours, is a beacon of light.
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