I have been learning about perspective lately. It had been easy to look at my past and my future, and this will distract me from what the Lord is doing now. I have been asking God hard questions, and sitting in His presents time and time again. The Lord gives me days of peace, and there are days where I do not feel it. However this past Thursday, I experienced so much peace and joy that didn’t make sense. We were at the mens ministry, and were apart of a night of prayer. We spent time praying over men in the program, worshiping along side them, and tearing up with them. The Lord was moving in big ways. I realized that I felt more at peace because I had taken my eyes off of myself, and had placed my eyes on others. This gave me a reality check of my selfishness. I had been questioning how the Lord wants to use me, and I realized all along He just wants me to pour out His love to His other children. THEN I was able to experience an abundance of joy. When we are able to take our eyes off of ourselves, we are able to experience the fullness of God and see more of His goodness.
In addition to learning this, over the weekend my bestie sheradyn sent me psalm 74 as encouragement for the season I am in. It is from the perspective of Asaph, during the time where the temple is as torn down by their enemies. Sher told me about how he was questioning why God was letting this happen, he questions if God was there, or if He had forgotten him. He was begging for God to show up. Halfway through the psalm his perspective changes and writes “Yet God my king is from old, working salvation in the midst of the earth”. Sher encouraged me saying even though I may feel like I have been under attack, YET GOD is who He says He is. We can have the encouragement of WHO God is and not what are circumstance currently is. Asaph had been crying out to God, and God hears our cries for help. She continued to encourage me saying God may have let certain things happen to me, but once we change our perspective from what has failed around us to what God has done and WILL do again. YET GOD.
I also received a message from my amazing friend Katie. She encouraged me that my story is precious and I am right where He wants me to be. She encouraged me to be completely honest with the Lord with my frustrations, but to not allow the enemy to lie to me. The enemy can be so good at making us feel like we are missing out on the goodness God has for us when we begin to compare our lives to those around us. Katie encouraged me to be honest with the Lord and to deeply seek truth over lies.
- The Lord works ALL things for our good & HIS glory…this is being used to sanctify you not to hurt you. (Romans 8:28)
- Seasons of hurt and trial work in us the sweetest and sometimes hardest season of dependency on the Lord. (Romans 5:3-5)
- 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
These are a few verses that katie sent me that were SO SO encouraging and brought me out of a rut. God uses everything, and does not waste the hard seasons. Praise God we have a hope for this life that is greater than ourselves, and a hope in a God who comforts us when we need Him. AND praise God for people back home that continually love me, seek me, encourage me, and point me to the cross when I’m serving.
