In a world filled with so much heartbreak, sin and disappointment…THIS…
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
The news.
Today.
Everything around us–sometimes–appears…broken.
Isaiah 40: 31…”but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Really?
Because with the news just today–I feel faint.
A precious Godly couple in Cobb County–whose lives were taken because of…who knows the heart of the one who thought this was an option to sustain him. Grandparents. Parents. Friends. So much taken for petty change. Their lives were worth so much more. Yet–their children grieve and even say words of forgiveness in just hours of the terrible news.
I see pictures of thousands of orphaned children–and I take a deep breath. Oh my soul. I believe Jeremiah 29:11 is for me–but can I really trust it is for them too? For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
So much feels broken.
I rock my babies–some brought to me through adoption…with layers of things for us to work through. Some days it feels like it might take a lifetime to heal. Maybe it will.
I hop on Facebook to see fellow adoption moms fighting with one another. Yet they were given the call to be healers of the brokenhearted.
I remember back to our own adoption–and a family member of mine with a different calling maybe stirring up hurt on one of my adoption threads saying we (and our friends) shouldn’t be adopting internationally as their were so many waiting children in America. Yet He had led and spoken to our hearts and our response was to follow…HIM.
I drive just 25 miles South and it feels like I’m in Africa again…the poverty just miles away. Fear as I stop at the red-light and I’m met with stares for being in the wrong part of town in a van. I just needed gas. But maybe I’m needed here.
EYES UP.
Do not look to the right or the left. Listen to the Lord. In this world you will face many trials…you will see overwhelming sin. BUT–wait upon the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
The daughter…speaks forgiveness because Christ has overcome…even the greatest loss she will experience this side of heaven. The mom carrying burdens offers herself as a living sacrifice as she holds up her plate and just keeps her eyes on Jesus…loving with the strength He has given her and trusting HIM to be the healer. The moms and friends on social media–seeing hurtful words–choose to love anyway and keep their eyes on Jesus rather than becoming involved or choosing sides and becoming distracted…because looking to the right or left will do that. The mom closes her ears to the world and what the world thinks she should do–because she’s keeping her eyes up…and listening to Jesus and following Him. The girl at the red-light–she listens to that call…and even if she isn’t called to go right now in her life–she looks for who is and she sends and supports. HE IS WORKING AMONG THE SIN, THE PAIN, THE HEARTBREAK and THE BROKEN.
Galations 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
1 Peter:6-9 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
John 16:33” I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
And among all that–God’s light SHINES through.
Through Leighanne…I have found a friend on a blog across the country…who inspired her sister to adopt a little girl with Down’s Syndrome. You can’t help but giggle at Leighanne’s top Five. I follow her on Instagram and that little precious one inspires me. And she doesn’t even know it. God SHINES THROUGH.
I watch my precious friend Jennifer Armbruster–a fellow adoption and foster mom–fall in love with birth moms through foster care and love them as big as she does their children. She takes risks in the middle of the brokenness…she gives up much. God SHINES THROUGH.
I read my dear friend Lauren’s words who knows the pain of loss–yet she keeps taking risks and loving outside of herself. God SHINES THROUGH.
I met the Hensley’s through social media and Created for Care…and connected them to Wiphan…and now they sell their home and move their entire family to Zambia to work with Wiphan…with a house full of kids trailing behind them as they go. Sure malaria and other risks will be there waiting. But so will Jesus. God SHINES THROUGH.
I get an invitation from my old roommate to hear about a vision the Lord has given them after they moved to inner city Atlanta. Aside from working full-time for Navigators, they will start a school in the 5th most dangerous neighborhood in the country with the hopes that Peace Prep and the children who attend it will transform this neighborhood in the name of Jesus. God SHINES THROUGH.
John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
So today. I find myself where I should be…
On my knees for a broken world–but with my EYES UP…
Waiting.
Trusting.
Ready.
Ready to take the next step…whatever it might be.
Despite the tribulation–hopeful…because He always overcomes.
Hand in hand with my brothers and sisters in Christ not giving up–but ready to run…and worship…to shake my tambourine because I know and believe He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. HE WILL ALWAYS SHINE THROUGH THE DARKNESS. Even for that…He has a perfect plan.
So rise up.
Look up.
He is there…He is moving.
Fill us Lord Jesus with your sweet power and Spirit. Move in us. Use us for Your glory and Your kingdom come…as on earth as it is in heaven.
I love this poem “Anyway” by Mother Teresa. Because He will shine ANYWAY…being His light bearers–may we do the same.
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
