“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.'”
-C.S. Lewis
It's not easy holding onto a faith that the world around you tramples upon, devalues, mocks, and misunderstands.
It's not easy going against the grain, being different, and always feeling the need to explain your thoughts and convictions...only to have those look back at you with blank stares or condescending gawks.
Sometimes...just sometimes...you want to give up. You know deep in your gut you shouldn't think that way, but you can't seem to help it.
You no longer have the energy to explain your thoughts to others. You no longer have the energy to try to defend yourself and your precious Savior.
Sometimes, you want to listen to Satan's whispers of defeat and false reasonings. There's a part of you that wants to take the path more traveled.
Sometimes, you just want to be "normal." (You don't quite know what "normal" is...but you're pretty sure you're NOT IT...)
Sometimes, it hits you that a homeschooling, no tv, 9-kiddo-family in a 4 BR home, that would rather go hiking than go to Disney World ANY DAY, no skirt-wearing, contemporary-worship-loving family JUST DOESN'T FIT IN ANYWHERE.
And then...God asks more of you.
...And, you're not sure you can handle it. You're so far from perfect it makes your heart hurt. And Satan likes to remind you often of how weird and weak you are.
True friends that can "hang" with your large, crazy family, for an extended time, are few and far between.
And, then...
God speaks to you.
"I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14 NAS)... He is everything. Beginning. End. Everything in between. He IS. He's always the same...forever faithful, infinitely wise, perfectly just and unconditionally loving, all-knowing, everywhere all the time. He knows the past, present, and future...AND HE ISN'T SURPRISED BY ANY OF IT.
"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 1:25 NAS)...We think we are so wise. We think we can search and research and figure it all out. God knew we'd be this way. He KNEW we'd try to explain Him away. Even the most educated scientists can't even explain and classify the platypus - a unique creature I'm convinced God had much fun creating, knowing we'd scratch our heads at how it doesn't seem to fit. (sorry...a little tangent there!) This scripture reminds me that God is so much wiser than us...and so much stronger. I'd do well to rely on HIS wisdom, and HIS strength...instead of my own. (I am WAY TOO OFTEN prone to rely on my own.)
And this past week, I was in the car alone and heard a song I hadn't heard before. (Usually, the kids keep me from hearing all the words to a song...but I was able to soak in the words and music of this one.)
And, it spoke to my heart and was exactly what I've been feeling.
No matter how much I doubt His plans for me...
No matter how defeated I might feel...
No matter what mistakes I may make...
No matter how inadequate I might feel for the task at hand...
He's "been my God through all of it."
Lord, "I look back and I see You. Right now I still do. And I'm always going to."
Thank you for speaking to me...for giving me encouragement and strength and reassurance that YOU ARE enough.
Through All Of It
By Colton Dixon
There are days I've taken more than I can give
And there are choices that I made
That I wouldn't make again
I've had my share of laughter
Of tears and troubled times
This is has been the story of my life
And there are choices that I made
That I wouldn't make again
I've had my share of laughter
Of tears and troubled times
This is has been the story of my life
I have won
And I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy, I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
And I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy, I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
You were there when it all came down on me
When I was blinded by my fear
And I struggled to believe
But in those unclear moments
You were the one keeping me strong
This is how my story's always gone
When I was blinded by my fear
And I struggled to believe
But in those unclear moments
You were the one keeping me strong
This is how my story's always gone
I have won
and I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy, I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Through all of it
and I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy, I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Through all of it
And this is who You are
More constant than the stars up in the sky
All these years of our lives, I
I look back and I see You
Right now I still do
And I'm always going to
More constant than the stars up in the sky
All these years of our lives, I
I look back and I see You
Right now I still do
And I'm always going to
I have won
and I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy
I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
and I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy
I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Through all of it
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Songwriters: REED, MOLLY E. / GLOVER, BEN
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
For non-commercial use only.
For non-commercial use only.
Data from: LyricFind
