If you came over from Encouragement for Today or from Ann Voskamp’s blog, I’m so thankful you’ve dropped by. I hope it’s the beginning of a sweet friendship. You are always welcome around this table.
I didn’t see it coming.
Life had finally settled into a sweet rhythm of goodness. 2017 was a year of scars for us, so we were grateful.
Until another hard place rose up.
Can I tell you something?
This us what life looks like. Sweet times that bring us immense joy. Unbridled moments where we laugh until we cry. All mixed in with hard places where we hold tight to our faith because that is all that we know to do.
Maybe right now you are in a sweet place. Savor that. Don’t miss it. Don’t let anything cloud your view.
Perhaps you are in a hard place right now. Hang tight. God is faithful. He is who he says he is. You are not lost. You are not forsaken. You are not so far away that God doesn’t know exactly where you are.
This is the beauty of our faith. He is the constant in each of those places. That’s why we are never lost. God has never taken his eyes off you and me, not for a second. He knows exactly where we are, and he is near.
But what if you feel totally lost due to choices that now bring you heartbreak?
Surely, God will leave you to your own fate. Surely you are as lost as you can be. Not so. Not so. Not so. Our Heavenly Father is tenacious. He is merciful. He finds where we are hiding and directs the Holy Spirit to nudge and tug, to expose those things that take you away from God’s goodness as you are invited to you to run back into God’s love.
We don’t have to be lost — ever. No matter where we are.
For God has unveiled them and revealed them through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding]” (1 Corinthians 2:10, AMP).
Whether we are in a sweet place or a hard place, or are hiding because we feel we have failed the whole world, we don’t have to wander. God freely gives us what we need, even when we have no idea what to do. He asks us to move beyond our own view, our own ideas of where we are or should be, to accept his leading.
So, what does this look like in real life?
- Start every day with an invitation
A good friend shared that he starts his day by kneeling on the first step of his stairs as he says the words of this old hymn.
I need you, Lord. I need you. Every hour I need you. My one defense.
My righteousness. Oh, Lord how I need you.
It is an act of total surrender. No matter how he feels. No matter what yesterday held or didn’t hold, or how awesome or how frustrating the day ahead might be, he confesses his need for God from the first few seconds of his day. It’s human nature to start our day based on our attitude, or how yesterday went, or based on what the day ahead seems to hold.
When we start every day with in surrender, we are confessing our need for a God who loves us. It’s a beautiful way to walk with him.
- Stop
Just stop if you feel lost. Don’t try to figure it out on your own. Don’t let the enormity of what is ahead of you diminish the greatness of what God can do in that hard place. Stop and ask God to show you the next step.
And he will. He may not take you where you thought you were going. He may lead you into deeper waters. He may lead you into healing. He may lead you into rest. He may lead you up higher paths where trust is your compass. He may lead you into new intimacy with him as you leave behind what you thought faith looked like, so you can truly know him. Regardless of where you are today, God knows exactly where to find you.
You are not lost, sweet friend. You are found, always.
Suzie
Related Resources (books to help you grow in your faith)
The Spirit-Led Heart: Living a Life of Love and Faith Without Borders
Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Jesus
If you enjoyed this blog post, you may love these:
Freebie just for you
- Download this gorgeous printable ready-to-frame print of The Spirit-Led Heart Manifesto. I hope it encourages you every day.
- Download this free prayer Ebook. Sometimes we don’t have the words. I hope these start that conversation you want to have with God.
Related Resources (books to help you grow in your faith)
Today’s devotion was one I needed to hear. Life gets a little crazy and I don’t stop and listen when I feel lost and alone. Susie’s reminder that that the Holy Spirit is always there for us will be on my heart and in my mind the next time I find myself crumpled in a heap.
Your ears are like my ears, Dawn. Are our ears related? I can tend to run fast toward where I think I’m supposed to be. Or, just sit down and cry. I’m gettin’ better at this listening thing. Even if He has to speak in His outside voice sometimes. We are never far from Him. Whew! Blessings on your day!
Yes!! I needed this also. I’ve been saying this week…i need to stop and listen and not just run ahead which I tend to do. As ALWAYS, the Lord’s word is right on time. He is faithful.
Every word speaks the truth of God. Life is filled with chaos and distractions. One little thing can throw us off the right track. And it’s not easy to draw near to the LORD when we feel upset or uncertain about what the future looks like in our life. But it is exactly those uncertain moments that God input to our lives testing our faith and trust. God adores a close relationship with us but we are the ones walking away all the time. Because God loves us, He wouldn’t want to see us to walk astray; our life events are as if tools used by God to perfect the work He started in us. Great reminder today, my friend.
You did not respond to the error in your book about the timeline of the book of Acts. You say, Acts chapter 3 and 4 happened 30 years after chapter 2!?! Do you actually think it took 30 years for their number to grow to 5,000 believers? Where is the dynamis in that?
Thank you, Kathy, for your comment. I actually have responded to that. When I saw the error, I immediately contacted my publisher and we corrected it. Unfortunately, the first batch of books contained that error. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for pointing this out.
To answer your question, Kathy. The dynamis power is found in the fact that God can somehow use fallible people to do his work. I’m so grateful for that.
I would have contacted you personally to thank you and respond, but there was no email address. I hope you have an incredible, amazing day. I pray that God covers you and leads you and that you feel his presence in such a sweet way today.
Yes!! I needed this also. I’ve been saying this week…i need to stop and listen and not just run ahead which I tend to do. As ALWAYS, the Lord’s word is right on time. He is faithful.
Thank you Suzie for this wonderful devotion!
2018 has been a hard year, physically, and today I learned the end isn’t near at all. It is so comforting that I don’t need to walk these hard times alone-the Holy Spirit is with me to comfort me, guide me and also show me where I can be used of God while I go through this trial. Such peace can only come from God!
I need Him every hour.
Consistently great encouragement, Suzie, thanks so much!!! It often affirms the very things the Lord is reminding me of and teaching me.