By: Kathryn Messer
Grab a cup of something warm and join me at the table for a comforting reminder of God’s security in times of chaos and heartache. Despite the chaos or hellish situation you may be experiencing, allow me to encourage you over a little cup of tea or coffee. I have my steaming cup! You’ve got yours? Great. Here we go!
Despite the depth of pain and suffering you are currently holding inside your heart, you are not alone my friend. God will walk beside you, if you allow Him into your story. God is more faithful than any doubts we may feel regarding His goodness or attention to our lives and mankind as a whole. Remember, He is stronger than our strongest weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10). God is not just an element, like wind or water; He is the Warrior General of heaven’s army (Psalm 46:7). That’s pretty cool… you gotta admit!
I know what it feels like to slump along in the faith and to really come to times of questioning. Now, this isn’t bad, as long as we take it to Christ (Psalm 55:22, Psalm 62:8, Isaiah 41:10 and 1 Peter 5:7). He is ready to answer your unknowns and bring light to dark spots. Do not back down girlfriend. You are worth fighting for and this is exactly what Christ did for you when He stepped down from heaven to redeem our lives by His atoning blood (Romans 5:8).
Call out to Christ in honesty. If your day sucks, tell Him. What I love about our Lord is He’s real. Thus, we never need to sugar coat anything, nor do we need to pretend with God. He already sees our hearts and desires to strengthen us for His work and calling (1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Timothy 3:17 & Ephesians 2:0). The Lord says, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.” (Revelation 3:8)
Keep the faith my friend! Christ has NOT dropped you. The Lord knows all the desires in your heart. He sees the hurts. He knows the fears. He hears the uncertainty. And God wants to work all things out in your life.
I myself went through a long time of waiting, and waiting, and just for a change of pace, I waited some more for direction from the Lord. Nothing happened, so I thought at first.
What I didn’t realize then, but am seeing more through time, is that God delights in His kids (Psalm 147:11). Thus, He is willing to do what it takes to get us ready for the situations and circumstances that will be brought our way. He cares about us enough to prepare and equip us for the trials and hardships in this life.
When I was a little girl, probably in 3rd or 4th grade, I remember seeing a map of Africa in school and feeling led to go there. Yet, in all honesty, this horrified me! How could I someday go to a place I knew NOTHING about? I didn’t understand and stayed away from the idea for many years.
Then in college, the Lord gave me in a dream. He showed me a few scenes that looked to be out of a movie of sorts where I could see myself. When I awoke I felt compelled to learn Arabic! Spanish was my college major at the time, so this seemed really funny too. Yet, I knew it was indeed from the Lord. And as the months continued, He provided for an opportunity for me to head off to Zambia, Africa for the first time. It was interesting to see how the Lord had prepared my heart to go.
In the meantime, Christ allowed me the opportunity to let go of my fear and hold on to His mighty leading. I came to see that Christ will never lead us to a place He hasn’t prepared, if we continue to pray for Him to lead. How reassuring to remember that He cares about us more than any other can. He knows our hearts better than even we know ourselves—wild!
So, as I prepared to leave the country, I continually came back to Him with my fears of going to Zambia. Each time, our gracious Lord calmed my fears and affirmed the route I was walking. He led the whole thing and I was so blessed by this fact. I can tell you in all honesty as I let go of my concerns, the Lord began to sprout excitement and a love for a people I had never met, deep within my heart. When I returned to the United States from the short time in Zambia, the Lord told me that I would be going a second time. And I was THRILLED!!!
I again wrote prayers and cried out to the Lord for His guidance. I did not desire to do anything without the Lord; I was lost without Him. Each time, God was faithful to answer my cries and to respond to my fears. As Christians, we are not to be ruled by fear; if we are walking in the path that God has directed us, then we are to walk in boldness (Isaiah 26:4, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:8, Proverbs 3:5). As I prepared for this extended journey, I asked the Lord daily to have His will in this day, as well as in the upcoming adventure, because I knew that I could not do it alone. And in all honesty my friend, this is what it’s all about.
The Lord desires for us to be so dependent on Him that we involve Him in even the “little” decisions of our days. Why? Because He is madly in love with us and wants us to know that we are never, ever alone (Hosea 3:1). How sweet to know that we share a relationship with the Creator of the universe and He longs to be involved in every area of our lives out of the utmost love and concern for us.
Grief and heartache are real. Yet, as believers in Jesus Christ, we do not grieve without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). It is a sincere comfort for me to recall that salvation and rescue are available to all who call upon His name (Acts 2:21). We may still remain in our chaotic situations, but as believers in Jesus Christ, we can rest assured that better days and true rest from heartache are coming in the Lord’s perfect timing (Isaiah 40:30-31).
I think far too often we picture God like a superhero: able to rescue and fully save only one at a time. Yet, this is not true of the Almighty God, Yahweh. We serve the God of creation and the Lover of our souls. Thus, no matter the time period in history, the color of our skin, or the complexity of the chaos around the globe, Christ is there and ready to rescue whenever called upon.
And as we pray for help, as we cry our in our weakness and allow Him to be in sovereign control of our lives, things will change in a drastic way. This doesn’t mean that we’ll always be taken out of the situations, but God will orchestrate the situation for our ultimate rescue. Christ desires to walk with us through our journeys ministering to our hearts all the while. Why in the world would He do this, you may be asking?
Because WE ARE WORTH IT. True love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). And for this reason, Christ was willing to come to this earth, where He was tempted in every way, never sinned, and then died for our stupid decisions and hurtful choices (1 John 4:10). He paid a debt that you and I could never pay for on our own. Regardless of the circumstances that have brought you to this point in your life today, God has already provided a way out!
Stop and think about that for a second; let it soak in.
You are loved (Romans 5:8). There truly is no amount of words to express this fully. It comes down to a realization and peace within your heart that only Christ Himself can provide. Pray for God to reveal His peace and direction for your life as you follow His will for your life. Don’t be afraid to seek after God. The Lord assures us that we will find Him when we search with all of our heart (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Again, it is a heart issue. God brought me through the same process and I am fully confident that He will do the same for you.
His death and resurrection proved so (Acts 10:41 & Romans 14:8-9). Don’t allow the devil to feed you lies about your identity. You are royalty. If you have entrusted your life and eternal destiny to Jesus Christ, you are the daughter of The Most High.
Whether your personal world is falling apart, or you watch the global events that continue to unfold horrific tragedy and bloodshed, take heart. God has not checked out of the picture. It is time for all who call upon the name of the Lord to rise up and fall to our knees before God. It is time for us to pray that God would move the hearts of individuals experiencing heartache, as well as world leaders, to bring compassion, justice, and mercy to those experiencing devastation and abject horror. There is hope in Jesus’ name. Jesus assures us of the victory that we can claim over each and every circumstance of life within the Holy Bible.
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NASB)
May we pray that the Lord stir our hearts to be used to further His message of hope and restoration to this hurting world. Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead is proof of this beauty amidst the thorns of present heartache. Ladies, may we earnestly pray for each hurting heart to experience true peace for Christ alone is the answer.
Photo Cred: Chelsea Steller
What is love? Is it s’mores on the beach at sunset? Is it a mountain vista overlooking acres of evergreens after a hike? Is it scuba diving through a shipwreck? Kayaking as the summer rays kiss your face? Climbing sand dunes? Skydiving? Author and blogger, Katie Messer, would answer that any interaction with God’s creation points to the infinite love of God. Yet, the place in which she sees God’s love most fully manifested is in the ultimate act of unabashed love by her Lord, Jesus Christ. She thanks God for her God fearing husband and their two children who share in these international adventures. “Mirrors to Window: Change your view to see God’s true romance” is a book of Katie’s own honest testimony of God’s radical rescue and redemption within her own life. “Blooming Beauty” is Katie’s official blog site. Check it out for encouragement in how to see and thank God through all circumstances of life. Why? Because you are worth it to an infinitely loving God.
