Come on. I know that title just threw you back to those early Toby Mac fandom days. And honestly, the last few weeks I’ve caught myself singing those very lyrics. Humming “Ooh ah, ooh ah, oooh”. Because dang this life is rich and there is so much to be celebrated. From dear friends entering into engagement, to a wedding soon approaching, to reuniting and reconnecting with sweet summer Tennessee friendships. From experiencing the beauty of God’s creation (beach in Jax to autumn woods of Georgia/ still age old most difficult question of which is preferred), to watching the kingdom be furthered and the gospel spread on my lovely UF campus, to delving into deep, life giving spiritual conversations. As we enter into the “month of thankfulness” I can’t not but smile at the fullness my heart feels. Praise seems to spill from my lips. It’s pretty easy when everything just seems to add up, go with the flow, go above and beyond, 3..2..1.. blast off, grooving and moving, ball is rolling, life is good t-shirt on. And yes I do believe God wants me singing to him from the mountains when I’m overlooking their vast beauty- that on top of the world high. But I also believe He wants me singing to him from the pit of the valley when I’m stuck, broken, and in despair. When the oooh ahhs seem to be the last thing my lips want to proclaim. And I think the key word for me here is singing. He wants me singing to him, not silent. I like to fix things. I like for things to look nice/ be put together. I like to understand. Add these ingredients up and put me in a difficult circumstance-you get a hugely sinful version of me. Because in the valleys- the hard circumstances- the ones where tragedies happen, injustices are rampant and sin seems overpowering- I, Jessica Wright attempt to take the role of God. And what a pathetic idea, let alone action. And if that’s not enough, once I feel like its been fixed, I understand and it looks better, I then feel it ok to pridefully open my mouth and say “Hey God, look at this. Look at this journey I took myself on. Want to enter in the outcome/solution with me? I did the hard part for you.” And friends do we see the error. That the “I” is coming before the “God”. That in the times where we need a Savior, Warrior, Lord, Father the most that if we are not willing to bring him the full range scale of emotions, the vulnerability, and questions that nothing actually gets fixed? But thank goodness for The Word and all it has to teach us. The Psalms overflow with David’s emotions. David isn’t silent when circumstances are hard and dark and sinful. Psalms 40 is a perfect example. David is running from enemies who want to kill him. But David points his eyes upward and doesn’t stop communication with the Father. “Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles without number surround me” The chapter continues with raw thoughts and feelings, but ends with a proclamation of truth-of the Lords unchanging, constant character. His goodness and abounding love. “You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.” My prayer for this month is that the circumstances we are in wouldn’t be a proclamation of who we think our Father is. Because my God is not boxed into what my earthly eyes can or can’t see. Be it a season of blessings or one of trials may we count them all as Christ’s and ask him to enter in with us. That our lips wouldn’t become silent when we don’t understand, but instead praise the one who understands all. That we would be loud in our singing whether it be from the valley or on the mountain. That our lips would sing “ooh and ah” daily because on the cross he took the payment for our sins, defeated the grave, and offers us eternity with him.
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AuthorI LOVE JESUS, GRACE, PEOPLE, PUNS, TRAVEL, ADVENTURE AND THE FLORIDA GATAS Archives
October 2016
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