Today, if I were to write my conversation out with God I believe it would go something like this:Me: God?
God: Yes
Me: Thank you for always being there for me.
God: Of course Christi, you are my child!
Me: Sometimes it’s hard for me to grasp your compassion.
God: Continue
Me: Well, we feel this pressure to have to be “good” all the time. We need to be happy, or smiling. But a lot of time life is just hard to understand. Sometimes there are unexpected turns. Sometimes we face a loss. Sometimes we face situations completely out of our control. Sometimes we face battles that others may not understand. And You of all people could be the one to say, “Get over it, I already sent my Son to save you from hell, and you are asking for support on top of it… And support for something so small” But you don’t! Why?
God: Because I love you so much! You cannot fathom how much I love you. I want to hear everything you will tell me. I want the good the bad and the ugly. I want your smiles, but I also want your tears. I want your laugh and I also want your questions. I want you, no matter what you are facing, feeling or thinking, to come to me. No matter how big or how small I want to sort it out with you. If you don’t cry to me who will you cry on? If you don’t wrestle things out with me, who will you wrestle things out with? I have everything you need that’s why I want you to come to me.
Me: ……. Thank you God…..I’d be completely lost without You!
I recently went through a challenging season. And to be honest I’m still not 100% sure of the season I am in right now. But, I have felt God’s compassion more now than I think I ever have. He never tells me, “Christi suck it up- get over it” Instead He reminds me of His Word.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
The passage goes on to say in verse 11, “He has made everything appropriate in its time…”
The Greek for appropriate is translated: fair, beautiful, handsome. God allows seasons in our lives and they can all be beautiful!
God knows there will be times of joy, fulfillment, contentment and other times of heartbreak, pain, suffering, and loss. But verse 12 says, ” I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime”
Today, whatever “time” you are facing, I want to encourage you as I am learning to seek God, pray honestly, and seek to be all there in whatever season you are in. I believe God allows us different seasons in our lives in order to understand a little bit more His character. In this season I have come to know God better as a compassionate savior and friend. I’ve also known Him to be my Good Father, my refuge, my peace, my shield, my protector and my provider.
God knows we all need Him and He wants us to come to Him no matter what shape we may be in. He loves us and His love is not based on how much we give Him. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
I just want to take a moment to thank God publicly for His continual compassion:
Lord Jesus,
Thank you. Thank you for holding my hand through every season of my life. Thank you that no one can snatch me out of your hand. Thank you thank though the waters rise they will not overtake me. Thank you that when I go through the fire I will not be burned. Thank you for always setting aside time to hear me even when I am not making sense or angry or hurting. Lord, thank you for knowing me better than I could ever know myself. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for your compassion that never ceases. Thank you that You did not just stop saving me when Jesus ascended to heaven, but you continue to save me on a daily basis. Thank you for your compassion. Thank you for letting me cry. Thank you for not holding my sins against me. Thank you for your embrace. Thank you for your peace. Father, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you! Please make me more like you!
In Jesus name. Amen
