Not for a Moment

I have always enjoyed attending Christian music concerts. Over the course of my life, I've enjoyed seeing such artists/groups as Petra and Carman (yes, I'm that old), Avalon, Newsong, Jump Five, FFH, Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, Rebecca St. James, Super Chic[k], Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Mandisa, Tenth Avenue North, Matthew West, and most recently, Meredith Andrews.

Our dear friends, Dennis and Cathy, asked a few weeks ago if we'd like to see Andrews in concert. Although I only knew one of her songs, the price was right and the company always welcomed, so we made our plans.

Meredith Andrews looks like she's the girl next door--maybe 13 at most. On the short and petite size, she amazed me with the power in her voice. I don't know much about her vocal training or musical resume, but the woman has pipes.

But it was more than pipes. She had a testimony, a message to share; and it touched my soul.

She shared that God is with us through everything. He doesn't forsake us. He doesn't abandon us--not even for a moment. He knows the pieces of our puzzle and how to put them together. He is a strong God. You may say, "So what? Don't most Christian artists say something like that?"

I suppose that's true, but some artists seem bent on the performance aspect, but Andrews was all about the worship. She was in worship with each and every song, and she seemed to put her arm around me--around us--and encouraged me to worship, too. It was a bit of manna in the desert.

God, don't stop carrying us...not for a moment.

Peace,
k.

Life is messy...

Let's just cut to the chase: Life is messy.

At best.

And I am a human, so I become upset at what I perceive to be unjust. 

Then, I get a gentle nudge from God that reminds me, "Hey, Karen...who's in charge here?"

My response varies...I may yell, "YOU ARE, BUT WHEN IS ALL THIS BAD STUFF GOING TO STOP? I MEAN, WHAT ABOUT JEREMIAH 29:11 WHERE YOU HAVE ALL THESE GREAT PLANS???" Or I might whimper, "Why?" I may say nothing, closing my eyes and crossing my arms in front of me as if to say, "I don't want to hear it. I'm not ready to accept it."  Sometimes I sigh and whisper, "I just don't get it" and sometimes I might add, "but I'll trust that You know best."

Have I mentioned how REALLY human I am? Don't put me on a pedestal for ANY reason because I'm going to fall (or jump) off. 

In the past two weeks, I've witnessed and cried over intense pain.  Our family's dealings with my mom's and brother's health concerns. People living with depression/anxiety. Kids grappling with issues that kids should just NEVER have to think about. Those coping with divorce. Friends who have been unjustly accused.  People wondering if life is worth living anymore.

When pain in my own life has been intense and prolonged--and I just couldn't think straight through the stress--there is a Bible verse that came back, again and again.

Isaiah 43:2-3a
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

I am no theologian. I don't know any Greek except for a few Greek letters from my college days. But I do see a key (repeated) word: WHEN. We aren't going to escape pain in this life because we love God, believe in Jesus, or profess to be a Christian.  I don't know why we have to endure pain, whether it's physical, emotional, mental, or a combo deal, but the promise is repeated several times.  (this doesn't mean that Isaiah needed a better proofreader...the repetition was built in to show the readers how important the concept was...learned that from a very good Disciple Bible Study teacher!) That promise is that God will be with us. We're not going to drown, even if the waters are up to our very nostril hairs. We're not going to be swept away by rushing waters, even if we're hanging on with our last fingernail.  We aren't going to be charred to smithereens, even if it feels we're about to be thrown from the frying pan and into the fire. Oh, don't get me wrong. It surely feels that way sometimes. I know--trust me. But God isn't in a corner laughing at us. He's not busy elsewhere doing God-duties. He's WITH us.

This reminds me of what I envision to be a really good friend.  One that will just be there for you when you cry, scream, rant, snort, or pull out your hairs--one by one--from your skull. That good friend will be the one who hands you the box of kleenex or asks if you need a bottle of water. That good friend will be the one to say, "I got your back."  That good friend will see the ashes heaped on your head...and take a scoop to put on his own head. A good friend is WITH you through it all...the near-drowning, the near-sweeping away, the near-burning...

Some days, knowing God is WITH us may not be that much comfort because we are so desperate for relief from our issues. However, over time, we can sense that God's presence is, in fact, what gets us through those rising waters and blazing flames.

God, draw us near, carry us through because life is messy.

Peace,
k.