Saturday, April 19, 2014

Because He lives

 
 
 
 
Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
all fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
and life is worth the living
Just because He lives.
 
 
 
Read those words above a few more times.
No, really. Read them.
 
Let them sink in, down deep.
 
He is risen.
 
He is alive.
 
Is He alive in your heart?
 
You will know it if He is.
 
You won't have to second guess yourself.
 
He is alive in my heart and life.
 
He gives me peace when I have none.
 
He whispers to me sometimes, so I listen really carefully.
 
He assures me that He does hold the future.
 
No matter what life brings.
 
You maybe have lost a child this past year.
 
You maybe have been told you will never have a child of your own.
 
Maybe you are sick. All the time. And nothing helps.
 
Perhaps you are in the waiting room of your life, waiting for God to tell you where to go next.
 
Maybe you are in a marriage where you feel trapped and alone.
 
Maybe your children have wrote you off and have nothing to do with you.
 
You lost your job. You have no income.
 
Your dad is fixing to go back to prison. Again.
 
Your parents are divorcing.
 
You found out your wife is cheating on you.
 
You had a miscarriage.
 
Your baby was stillborn.
 
You feel lonely in your marriage.
 
You are in debt up to your eye balls.
 
You've gossiped so much about others that you've ruined your own reputation.
 
Your best friend suddenly found a new best friend.
 
You cry out to God, but don't hear anything back.
 
Your mom has cancer.
 
You have cancer.
 
You have anxiety.
 
You're depressed, but can't admit it.
 
 
 
I know at least one person who is going through at least one of those situations.
 
Why would God allow this?
 
My answer, and I don't expect it to be "good enough" for all of you, is this...
 
God sent His only Son to die for this sinful world, so we could live eternally with Him.
 
We all have a free will. We can do what we want basically.
 
It never once said in the Bible that if you follow God you will have the perfect life. Perfect parents. Perfect spouse. Perfect kids. Perfect health. Perfect everything.
 
It was actually the opposite. We have to be willing to deny ourselves and follow Him. Not many people do that. You can only answer that for yourself.
 
But, even if you do live whole hearted for Him, bad things will still happen.
 
BECAUSE... we live in a sin-filled world.
 
I grew up in a home where my dad was an alcoholic.
My dad was delivered and gave his whole life to God when I was 12.
I got to see the realness of God by how he changed a drunk into a mighty man of God.
 
I had a miscarriage last December. We had wanted our second child for quite a few months at that point. We were so excited to learn we were having another baby. Just days after finding out we would be second time parents, the dreams and hopes for the future were shattered, taken away totally.
I felt alone. Friends checked on me and family loved on me. But I just wanted that baby back in my belly. I wanted to be his or her Mommy, just like I am Raylea's.
 
But, I learned what it was to trust God and trust His hand. I had to follow His words even when the pain was so raw and real. Even when I saw 9 month pregnant ladies that were smoking a cigarette or yelling at their kids like they were dogs. I had to trust Him.
 
I will always be able to help someone who goes through a similar loss, because I can relate to their pain.
 
I could go on for a while about different scenarios that lead me to see God working.
 
Sometimes it took years for me to see His plan. Sometimes only a day.
 
My point is, this life is as a vapor... please don't get so caught up in questioning God of "why?"
 
I am also not telling you to toughen up, because many people are going through very awful things right now, this second.
 
But God didn't cause any of this pain and suffering. Our sin natures is what cause the evil, the hurt, the sickness, the pain. Just because you're going through something doesn't mean that God doesn't love you, He is trusting you to make it through this trial and come out on top.
 
If your life had no problems, why would you need God? Of course we would worship Him, but seriously. We wouldn't know the feeling of depending on Him. I can't imagine that. He is where I get peace, even if that means I am hurting, I love to pray and talk to Him and feel Him wrap His arms all around me and tell me everything will be okay.
 
And it will.. because, He lives.
 
You can face tomorrow.
 
Tell yourself that. Right now.
 
Because He lives, all fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
and life is worth the living
 
just because
 
 
HE LIVES.