I just reconnected with my pastor, who established the church plant my family was a part of twenty years ago. When we left that state, life was painful with my (ex) husband’s drug abuse and rage. I had the opportunity to catch him up on all that had gone on that I kept secret, but I also shared with Him how when I look back at those nightmare years, all I see is the goodness of God.
This morning, during my Jesus time, I began to journal deeper and reflect on the many valley seasons where I experienced the tangible realness of our Omnipresent God, thanking Him for His faithfulness.
When I was broken, He pieced me back together.
When I was under the weight of depression, He lifted the darkness off of me until I felt light and free.
When sorrow was heavy, His joy met me.
When I couldn’t take one more step, He strengthened me.
When I felt lost, He guided me.
When I felt lonely, He comforted me.
When life felt like unending chaos, His peace calmed my anxieties.
When I felt unworthy, unloved, not good enough, and inadequate, He showed me who I am through His Son.
I have so many testimonies of God showing up in the most overwhelming seasons of life, and I know the only reason I know Him in this way is because I didn’t turn to anyone or anything else — I ran to Him and Him alone.
Turning to Him is why I’m living completely healed, free from past pain, and all I see is the tangible evidence of a good and faithful God who truly is in the valleys of life.
Why am I sharing this with you?
As I was journaling, I found my mind drifting to this question I feel led to ask today:
Do you know Him in this way?
If not, I have more questions for you:
Who or what do you turn to when you’re uncomfortable, stressed out, overwhelmed, or hurting?
Is it God?
Or—
Do you check out on social media?
Call a friend?
Wait for your therapy or pastoral appointment?
Head to the fridge?
Go on a shopping spree?
Take a nap?
Hit the gym?
Who or what is your automatic go-to?
If it’s not God, it’s the idol (false comfort) you’ve put in His place that’s preventing you from experiencing His goodness in the hard parts of life.
Even our church communities can become idols.
It’s true!
We can be completely connected with our communities of support but totally disconnected from God, and without realizing it, we’ve replaced Him with people. This includes a high need for comfort from our children or spouse to fill a need in us that we should be getting from God.
Through Jesus, we have received the Holy Spirit who is our true Comfort, and with Him, it is lasting and complete. But if He is not the One we run to, we will not experience Him this way. Oftentimes we run to our spouse, our pastor, our small group leader, our Christian community group, our best friend, our mentor, etc., which are all good people, but if they are our only go-to and we do not go to God, we are still going to struggle and not get the comfort directly from the true Source of Comfort. A counselor, therapist, best friend, spouse, and all the temporary comforts on this earth cannot heal us, but our great and mighty God can.
Maybe you have a stronghold in your mind that says you need these people or these things in order to get through the sad and hard parts of life.
I used to believe the same.
Do you know what I learned?
Not only was I not filled with supernatural strength or peace, but I didn’t really understand the fullness of what Jesus paid for until I tore through that threshold of pain and sought after God with everything in me.
I’ve also come to realize through coaching, mentoring, and doing life with my Jesus family that many do not know God in this way.
Many are still bound by past hurt and trauma, still struggling to get through the storms of life, carrying burdens they were never designed to bear.
This is not God’s heart for His children.
He desires to meet each one of us in the place we need Him most, and the only way we will know Him in this way is if we let down our guard, remove the idols in His place, and with our whole hearts, turn to Him — it’s in that faith-filled heart posture you will find Him.
This is a promise from God for all His children.
I’m challenging you today to remove the idols, the distractions, the noise of the culture, and everything in between, still yourself in His presence, and call upon His great name!
If today’s devotional spoke to you or stirred up questions, my book, Ripple Effect, is a great resource that will help you unravel the many ways we’ve done church and how this way has blocked the bigness of God from moving in our lives. Grab your signed copy HERE.
Much love, J
