Here I Go Again

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

As I was thinking about and praying for the woman whose husband recently died a myriad of thoughts surrounded me. I recalled a time when while I was out of town when I was still working. A man I'd met and known, for half an hour, died tragically. There was no one to rely on apart from a few strangers in the form of a police officer, a chaplain and a victim's advocate, after this tragedy struck. In the midst of it all I began to draw my strength from the Lord.

As I thought about this woman I knew where she was drawing her strength. I talked with her briefly Tuesday on the phone and then more extensively Thursday at her home and despite her sorrow there was strength in her voice. Yes, she's grieving her loss but I know from experience that there is a supernatural power that will be with her to guide her, to give her peace and comfort. As we chatted you could hear the peace in her voice. She knew where her husband was. And she knew she would join him some day. And she's relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to show her which way her new life is to go.

I know, too, that in our trials, in our pain, is when some gather an even greater power to speak of Jesus, to share with others the joy of knowing Him and having Him be our strength and comfort in these times. It is our witness. I am naturally an introspective person and as I mentioned in other blogs it's often through our trials that we open up just a little more, or even a lot more, about His love and strength and comfort. His glory is then revealed! Maybe that's why as followers of Christ we are not without difficulties. It keeps us closer to God.

I know that in our hardest struggles when we have and rely on Jesus He truly does give us what we need. We might not recognize it immediately but when looking back it can be seen. It comes in the form of a scripture or devotion, in a word of comfort or the help of a stranger or two. You might even look at someone you know you've never met and feel as though you knew them...only to feel days later you may have looked into the face of Jesus through a stranger. You recognize His love.

This is what Jesus does. We receive Him into our lives, He shows up in the oddest ways! He knows what we need when we need it. It just always is all about Him. How can I express this any other way?? All of life is all about Him. How can we hear His voice if we first don't know Him as a Savior, Redeemer, Friend, our provision, strength, peace, guide?

We cannot say we have faith in Him if we don't know Him intimately. We cannot rely on His strength if we don't give Him our weaknesses. We cannot let Him in until we've allowed the walls around our hearts to fall. We cannot hear Him if we don't allow His Spirit or the words He has written for us into our spirits.

Jesus is so very real. He is alive. He is no longer on the cross. He has risen and He does live today in the hearts and lives of those who ask Him to become part of them. Him is the risen Lord still seeking to save the lost. He has always been and will be forever. He lives to draw others to Him.

His Spirit, His presence is for real. It comes in the moments of peace, the times of supernatural strength, in words we say when we least expect to speak them and they touch someone else's life even if for a moment. He lives and He lives in those who know Him.

There will come a day when we all will need this kind of strength, security and peace. It's all about Jesus. These are words that seem to be so prevalent in my spirit these days. When all others fail, He is the rock we can stand on, the cleft of the rock we can crawl into, the wings that will shelter us, the arms and hands that will hold us when we need it most. It's all about Jesus. Jesus.

[Jesus] said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (And later...) Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (Matthew 16:15-16, John 6:68)