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Thursday, January 20, 2011

seasons.

the lord never ceases to amaze me. over christmas break one of the things i was praying for is that God would not only give me direction, but give me something at auburn that i feel i can really pour my heart into. and just since i have been back God has been so faithful to constantly turn my fears into faith, my restlessness to peace, and my my disposition to pure joy.

just in these past 2 weeks, i have listened/talked to girl after girl about how they feel so broken, and that they do not understand what the Lord is doing with their lives, or why he is doing the things he is... and it has been so amazing because in 2 weeks i have gotten to share my testimony with 3 to 4 different girls about my past two years of unbelievable brokenness. and this is not bragging on myself at all, but giving glory to my heavenly Father for bringing me to a new season of life and blessing me with the struggles that i did so that i can know him in the way i do now- and more, that i can encourage my friends going through similar things to just hang on... because there is grace unimaginable, joy indescribable, and peace unfathomable all along the rocky road.

i was talking to a dear friend tonight, and as i sat here and listened to her just cry about how broken she is before the Lord i couldn't help but get so excited for her. because the best is yet to come. the joy that comes from being beautifully broken by Jesus is like no other.

i remember journaling, about this time last year (right when i transferred to auburn), and i had read my go to verse, Lamentations 3. in it he says,

"...my soul is bereft of peace; i have forgotten what happiness is..."

and thats exactly how i felt. i thought there was nothing else the Lord could break me of, there was no more pride or selfishness he could reveal... i was done. and looking back- i could not be MORE thankful for that season of brokenness. because it has brought me to this indescribable joy in the Lord and peace within his will- because i know my God is for me.

"weeping may last for the night,
but joy comes in the morning!
...you have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent..."
- Psalm 30:5, 11-12

"you are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
i will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
i will counsel you with my eye upon you
...steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord..."
- Psalm 32:7, 10

"i sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears. those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be shamed...
the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and delivers them.
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
...but those who seek the Lord lack NO GOOD THING...
the Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit..."
-Psalm 34: 4-8, 10,18

thats only 3 Psalms- there are hundreds of verses reminding us to cling to the Father.

"Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high Priest who’s name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hand
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin

Because a sinless Savior died
my sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah
Praise the One Risen Son of God.

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of Glory and of grace

One in Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God"

the Lord has so much in store for us, more than we could ever imagine. so to my sweet friend who is broken, or to my other who is hurting beyond my imagination, or to the one who feels like your world is in shambles, or to the one that is so discontent.... take heart. because this is the God we serve.

abc.

1 comment:

  1. You are so cool, and I love you so much! "To live is to be broken."

    ReplyDelete