But Even If You Don’t

I know it’s been quiet over here lately.  There’s ever so much going on but nothing I can form into words yet.

I have posts in my head about the gift of family friendships God has given us.  About miracles.  Funny kid stories.  Posts about travel and cooking and work.

I keep meaning to come over here for a chat.  Then today I felt a little shaken.  Unexpectedly so.  It caught me so off guard, I felt utterly exhausted this afternoon.  The emotional swing messed with my physical condition.  I worked to put one foot in front of the other.  To think.  To work.  I stifled yawns.

Then two things happened.

A friend, without even knowing how I was feeling in reaction to a changed circumstance, texted a powerful and specific prayer into the situation.  One I not only needed to hear for myself, but also one I needed to hear for someone else.  It shook me awake and reminded me I serve a powerful and loving God who does things differently than we do.  Because, you know, “His ways are higher than our ways…” and “The foolishness of God is wiser than men…” (Isaiah 55:8 and I Corinthians 1:25)

Then, I heard this song.

I know you’re able
And I know you can
Save through the fire with your mighty hand
But even if you don’t
My hope is you alone
I know the sorrow
I know the hurt
Would all go away if you’d just say the word
But even if you don’t
My hope is you alone

Whoa.

Anyone else need that tonight?

But even if you don’t, God.  No matter what.  You are still my hope.  And I still believe you can do it Mighty God.

So of course, I process by writing.  I plopped down here in the midst of bedtime melee to remind you and me both of something.  When the ground shakes underneath us, or circumstances change unexpectedly, we aren’t supposed to cave.  We aren’t supposed to turn into a turtle and retreat into our shell.  (Even though that’s exactly what I did today.)

The more of life we experience, the more we try to protect ourselves from disappointment or rejection or failure or uncertainty.  So we hide instead of charging bravely into the fight.

But here’s the truth: No matter where we are, in the middle of the battlefield or under the covers in our bed, we will still see disappointment or rejection or failure or uncertainty.

What do we do then?  The song by MercyMe above goes on to say: God when you choose to leave mountains unmovable, give me the strength to be able to sing It Is Well With My Soul.

I don’t know what you’re facing tonight.  But there is one thing that never changes.  Doesn’t shake.  Someone who won’t fail or disappear.  Hang on to Him.  Hold on to Hope.

My friend who texted me today, after her initial text committing to keep praying, returned to the phone a few minutes later.  She charged in.  She said, “I feel like we need to be praying…” and she laid it on out there.