To See Beyond

Right now we are going through a unique time. There are many challenges that we are facing as a result of of the Coronavirus. I've shed some tears in the last few weeks over some of the temporary losses and struggles.

But friends our God is so good. He invites us to fix our eyes on a time beyond this present moment. A time when we will stand before Him whole and complete. A time when He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. A time when pain will be a distant memory not a present reality. A time when we will be truly free. 

Right now we ache because of what's going on. We want things to be different and we seek relief from the pain. Know that God walks with us in this time. He aches with us. Oh but friend, He also longs for us to look beyond our present to see the glory that awaits us. So let us see the beauty of Christ. Let us fix our eyes on the One who is all glorious. Let us turn our eyes to the our Great and Powerful King.

He alone will heal and restore us. He alone is worthy of praise. He alone will work wonders we could never imagine. 

Today let us look beyond our present ache to see His glory. He walks with us through this and will guide us through to a better tomorrow filled with His love and presence. Let us hold onto Him and keep walking. We are safe and loved in His hands. Our future is secure. Let us keep walking. 

Focus Counts

Source

I have to admit Valentines day is one I have struggled with through the years. I mean being a single girl with no guy in her life right now it's easy to look at all the posts of happy couples and conclude that I am the last single woman on the planet. Now while even a cursery glance at my friends list tells me otherwise, I still have to fight to not dissolve into a puddle of tears or an ugly jealous person.

Where you chose to focus can makes a huge difference. When I chose to focus on what I don't have it makes me ungrateful and angry. Or I can focus on what God has given me. The family I do have. The friends I have been given. The forgiveness and peace that I have before God. When I choose to look at what I do have, it changes my perspective. I can see the fingerprints of my Loving Heaven Father even in the hardest times. 

This year as I approach another Valentines Day as a single woman, I want to see my life from God's perspective. I want to focus on the many blessings He has given me. I want to focus on growing the relationships that God has placed in my life. I was to look at my life through the lense of grace that I have been given. It makes a huge difference. 

So the next time that you catch yourself wistfully looking at a friend's seemingly perfect life or see an Instagram photo of a happy couple, stop. Take some time to remind yourself of what God has given you. Make a list of some of the blessings He's placed in your life. Remember some of the great friendships He's given you. It beats wallowing in a bad perspective any day of the week. 

The Wedding

Morgan Sessions Photography 

Last month I went to a wedding of a friend. Confession time: I normally don't wear make up to these events but that day I did. Why? There were going to be a lot of people there that I hadn't seen in 5 years and I wanted to look good. And I was feeling insecure. 

Honestly weddings are still a little tough. I enjoyed the ceremony and was excited for the couple. The reception was tough. Talking with ladies younger than me that were married and answering questions about my own life. It was tough. Answering the do you have a boyfriend question is rough for me. It brought up the pain of longing and reminded me of the place I want filled. I was starting to fill very sorry for myself. 

But God didn't let me turn the reception into a pity party. He sent me a lady with the words I needed to hear. She asked me what I had done in the last five years, if I had a boyfriend, and how life was going for me. I told her that God had been very good to me. I was working the same job. No boyfriend on the horizon. Still loving my family and friends. 

She looked at me and said, "that is so great Rose. You haven't changed a bit. You are still loving God and living out your faith." She kept talking, but my eyes welled up with tears. Here I was looking at myself through a lense of my singleness and hurt. Here she was looking at me through the lense of what God was still doing in me. 

It changed my whole perspective on the evening. Maybe I hadn't found a boyfriend, maybe I hadn't built up an amazing career, maybe I still had a lot of unfulfilled dreams, but that doesn't change the fact that God has never left me. He is still here. He is working. He is still loving me. 

In the end that's all that really matters. He is the center of our story. He is the light of the world. He is all that we need. He is the Redeemer of the story. 

Is it hard to believe that when I look around and it feels like everyone else is getting married? Yes. Is it hard to remember that He is all I need when I feel that longing for a relationship? Yes. Do any of my feelings change who He is? No! 

Ultimately He never changes. He will be my constant One. The Lover of my soul. My Rock and Redeemer. He is all Sufficient. He is all that is good. 

Now when I think back to that evening, I thank God. I am so thankful that God never left me to myself, but let me be a testimony to His grace. He crashed my pity party with perspective. For that I am grateful. 

Have you ever had God crash a pity party with perspective? I'd like to hear about it. Drop me a comment below.