We are thrilled to announce that our speaker for the 2018 Christmas Bash is Jen Green! Enjoy this glimpse into her life as you read this week's post.
I’m glad I’m getting older.
Well, of course, you say—the alternative is not so desirable. True, but for a woman in western culture to declare, “I love getting old!" is a bit, well, counter-cultural.
It’s getting older, however, that gives us the opportunity to live a lot of life—and when we live a lot of life, we get to see God work over and over again. His guidance, love and sovereignty is never so clear as when it is in our rearview mirror. When we look back and say, “Oh WOW—look what God did!”
Looking back is sometimes what we need to trust God in the NOW. When the now is filled with hurt, fear and dread and we don’t FEEL like trusting anyone—it’s what we’ve
seen
that overcomes what we
feel
.
We live in a time when feelings are revered above all other senses. The new ethic of our culture is, “I emote, therefore I am.” We have the ability at our fingertips to feed any emotion instantly. Feel like a historical romance?—order it upon the kindle. Feel like sushi?—call it in. Feel angry and need a laugh
?—
fire up Netflix and watch a comedy—there are 4,126 to choose from. We can feed our emotions until they become overly sated.
But, God's word reminds us that God is always God even when we don't
feel
like He is.
For I KNOW that my Redeemer lives.
Be still and KNOW that I am God.
This is eternal life, that they may KNOW You, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real KNOWLEDGE and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
Thus you are to KNOW in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
God tells us to KNOW and trust Him—not just to feel Him. Yes, at times we get the immense blessing of feeling His presence. Oh, those times are so precious, aren't they? A still quiet moment alone, or an amazing worship service at church, or a joyous answer to prayer that fills your chest with love and gratefulness for Our God who loves us so. Feeling God is powerful.
But, God wants us to know and trust Him when we don't feel it, too. On those barren days when He feels far away and you feel alone. In the moments when things are so good in your life, you don't really need Him. In the moments when life hurts so bad, you don't want to talk to Him. Those moments—when the feelings aren't there, He wants us to KNOW. And that's when you can rely on looking back on where He's brought you through your life to that point.
Recently, my daughter was involved in a car accident. She did nothing wrong, and yet, her brand new-to-her vehicle was totaled. After we felt the emotion of gratitude for her safety, we all then felt completely bummed over the loss of a cute little VW Jetta that was her 16
th
birthday present. It's been very inconvenient for us to do this summer with no vehicle for our teens. It's been discouraging for my daughter to have to deal with the consequences of someone else's distracted driving. We've been feeling kinda low.
But as a family, we've been telling ourselves and each other over and over again, “It's okay. It's in God's hands. He's going to take care of this.” How do we know? Well, of course, He tells us He will in His word. But, we also have the blessing of past experience to see how He works all things to His good. We've reassured our daughter to just trust and watch—and see how God uses this accident in her life and to further His kingdom. We KNOW He will.
God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good . . . regardless of our feelings.
