That Someone

I have a thirst for something not of this world.

A thirst for, for peace, for redemption, for healing, for salvation, for eternal joy, for home.

This thirst I have will never be quenched on the earth. But I look to quench it everyday.

I look in all the wrong places. I look in places that leave me empty and wanting more.
I look in places that promise fulfillment but leave me dry. Alone.

This thirst I'm longing to quench?

Well, you're looking for it too.

Our souls long for it. It's engrained at the center of our being to long for this completion, this wholeness, this perfection.

But the problem is:
Somewhere along the way we've lost sight of the One thing that can fill us.

Instead, we settle for everything less than and not enough. We settle for things that use and abuse. Things that lie. Things that damage. Things that scar.

We've been left scarred, broken, confused, and mistreated countless times. But we keep seeking in all the same places. All the wrong places.

We think, "Maybe this time I'll be filled."

We keep seeking. We keep breaking. We're broken. We're shattered.

Then that One thing.

It comes out of glorious light into our enveloping darkness, and speaks.

It says, "Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest."

You say, "All you who are weary? I'm weary."

This glorious light comes closer, meeting you right where you are. The darkness turns to light, exposing all your shattered parts.

You panic.

But then there's peace.

Inexplainable, all encompassing peace.

And it fills you.

This peace brings you hope.
This hope brings you promises.
This promise brings you a baby.
This baby brings you a Savior.
This Savior brings you healing.
This Savior gives you life.
New Life.

This New Life means your search is over.

The One your soul longs for has come.
He has come to set you free from this search. He has come to quench your thirst.

I have a thirst for something SOMEONE not of this world.

That Someone has come into this world.
That Someone has brought peace, redemption, healing, salvation, and eternal joy.
That Someone promises to take me home.
That Someone is Jesus.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

This I am Sure of

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."- Romans 8:28

Two weeks until the conclusion of an incredible summer. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be but it was everything I needed it to be.

While this summer was amazing, it was also one of the most difficult summers I've ever experienced. For various reasons. But looking back, I can see the hand of God in every moment. I smile as I type that, because that means that it was all worth it. All the questioning, all the tears, all the moments when it seemed like this couldn't possibly be in God's plan for me, all the days when I just wanted to quit. God was there through it all. He truly does work all things for good. I've seen that first hand this summer. I've seen this truth in my life before in countless ways but this summer I saw it in a HUGE, monumental, eye-opening, "hellooooo" sort of way. We're talking about the God who loves me. The God who gave His Son's life for me. The God who shaped me. Formed me. Planned me before the foundations of this world. Of course He's going to do everything in His power to work things out for my good. And He is all-powerful so I have nothing to be afraid of. It is true, He works all things for good.

I can now say these things with confidence. And you can too. You know why? Because, the God that loves me.. well He loves you too. He ADORES you. We just have to stop looking at the big storm in front of our face and look right beside us, where Christ sits. By our side. At all times. Even when we don't feel like He is. This I am sure of.

Now does this mean that whenever another struggle in my life pops up (big or small) that I'm not going to worry? or questions? or doubt? You think I have it all figured out? No, of course I don't. But I have this time in my life to look back and see how God was faithful. He is so faithful. I can look back and remember when God was the only One I could turn to. I can look back and remember that He is good and His love endures forever.

So this is my prayer for you, reader: That you would experience God in this sort of way. That you would chose to see His goodness on the hardest of days. That you would call out to Him, "Abba, Father", because that is exactly who He is to you if you are in Christ. My prayer is that you would have the kind of faith to trust Him and Him alone. Because you guys, He is so good. So unbelievably good. All the time.