“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.”
(Psalm 33:18 NIV)
Have you ever tried something, felt like you were banging your head against a wall, and finally either given up or decided it wasn’t going to happen? And then, somehow, (even miraculously) it came through? That’s what I’m feeling right now.
A teen girl I worked with this past year texted me to tell me she’d bought a book of poetry and reading it made her cry. Our text conversation went from art, to emotions, to God’s using these things to heal us. It was the sort of conversation I love to have, but don’t have all that often. Because I knew some of her background, I was hoping that my work with her this year would help to heal some of her wounds. Yet, it seemed like our conversations never went there. At the end of the year, I decided I had done what I could and, with a sigh, I basically gave up.
But, evidently, some seeds were planted this past year. Coming from her this conversation was an unexpected gift.
So, to you, I simply say: don’t give up planting seeds. Don’t give up on unsaved loved ones. Don’t give up on unanswered prayers. Don’t give up on dreams. Don’t give up on God.
You never know how God will accomplish what he desires.
God of Mystery,
Thank you for working in ways we can’t see or understand. Thank you that your ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours and that nothing you do returns void. Thank you that your Word will accomplish the purposes you sent it for. Help us to be strong, take heart, and trust that you are working things out, even when we can’t see how. Help us to never give up on your goodness, your faithfulness, or your mercy and grace. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
“Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 31:23-24 NIV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:8-11 NIV)