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

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