It’s July baby. Shout out to the Fourth because it’s up there with my favorite holidays. Beach, cookouts, red, white and blue and FIREWORKS- that’s a heck of a celebration. My summer thus far has been so much more than I could have hoped or expected. Hence the title. In my complete faithlessness HE has been oh so sweetly faithful to me. From creating for me a renewed community here at home, providing me a full time job, bringing friends to visit often, to a Bible study that reminds me of the Acts church- I have experienced His love in such a new way this summer. As Fall semester seems far away but also seemingly approaching, it is crazy to reflect on June/July and to get hyped for Gville round three. Here’s a blog that took me forever to get words for but one that I am so stoked to share.
When it comes to the big guy upstairs He is ALL about crushing our expectations- in the best kind of way. You know why? Because if we make a list of our best- be it qualities or favorite things- they don’t even come close to making His. We are not A-listers. I think this idea is pretty common within Christian culture. Common to the point where it loses its weightiness. I know I’m guilty of that. But then a dear friend of mine shared this verse with me and it shook me. Most definitely awaking me from my slumber. So get ready because I think this verse in Habakkuk brings ultimate HOPE. My reaction was one of a sweet, pure, JOY in our loving Father. Here it goes: “Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” - Habakkuk 1:5 Can I get an AMEN?!? Wowza. Let’s break this down real quick. The verse starts as a command. A command to look. To watch nations. To cast our eyes upwards and see what the Lord is doing. To eagerly gaze upon His creation. Followed quickly by “and be amazed”. And not just amazed, but UTTERLY amazed. Utterly here meaning “to the full extent, fully, perfectly, totally.” So as we look, our reaction is “in awe”. So by using our very eyes and casting them upon our Father’s works we can worship our God. How insane. We are creatures of worship through and through. We are designed for this. This is only the first half of the verse and my socks are already rocked off. Because the sunsets I just sit and marvel at or the sweet little boys I get to babysit every Monday that just make me laugh at how pure their love for things like monster trucks or pool time- those moments- I get to look and watch. And be amazed. Because our Father is a creator and designed these things to reflect him. It’s the small things I watch sometimes where I feel closest to our big God. But here comes the second half. If the first half of the verse was applied to the small moments- shoot. This second half changes the game. This is some dream casting, vision seeking- future talk. We are to be amazed BECAUSE our God promises things in our days. Say what?! I mean if it ended there I’d be pretty content. But as vague as “something” may seem it’s a “something” that is followed with the “if I told you, yea there’s no chance you’d believe me.” Rewind. Yea, this verse hit us with the “I am a big God. I am powerful. I am in control. And I am at work.” And praise Jesus. Because this twenty-year old struggles with those truths daily. How often do I approach the Lord as if he were merely a man. Capable of only human extent. How often do I question His power. How often do I take control, want control, strive for control, crave control. How often am I at work. Doing this and that. Work, work, work. And more than all of the above how often am I thinking “God could you just let me in on your plans for me. I think I could be in control a little bit. Like 75/25. You can have most of the control. But I think I deserve a little bit. I read my Bible. I have some good thoughts for my life. Not my whole life maybe but at least up until I’m married with kids and have that dream job.” Seems humorous after reading this verse in Habakkuk. Because our Father’s life plans for us and the nations are SO beyond us that our only response to them if we knew would be disbelief. So what is our response instead to the unexpected? To look in awe. To stand daily in worship to our loving God who intricately and oh so carefully has every detail in total control. And to trust him. To remember in the monotonous days of work and the sweet days full of all your favorite things that HE is so much bigger. This verse-it’s a promise. A declaration. Assurance. It is to be trusted, clung to and put hope in. Praise God that He is one who keeps His promises. Over and over and over again. It is a promise that we can FULLY expect the unexpected. Because if we knew- we surely could not even believe it. And that my friends I pray gives you hope. Hope in a promise that is applicable in all life seasons. That we may eagerly put our faith in Him. With praises overflowing in the fact He is and we are not.
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AuthorI LOVE JESUS, GRACE, PEOPLE, PUNS, TRAVEL, ADVENTURE AND THE FLORIDA GATAS Archives
October 2016
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