“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD God is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:3
Sri Lanka was one of the most interesting, beautiful and most challenging countries I’ve been to on the race. In my last blog, I explained the reasons for why it was so difficult but the Lord redeemed our experience there.
During our stay, I had a lot of time to think about the race thus far but some things in my heart started to resurface for me. Things I didn’t really want to deal with. Things I thought I had already forgotten and people I thought I had already forgiven. I felt restless in my spirit. I didn’t know what was happening. It was just this overwhelming sense of disappointment that came over me. I was tempted to deny it all or to just curl up in a little ball and isolate myself from the world, but the Lord was gently whispering to my heart to come meet with him.
I had my quiet times on the beach. Back at home, I would do the same. The vastness of the ocean, the roaring of the waves, and the absolute beauty of it all reminds me how big and how majestic my God is. It’s there where I feel so close to him.
So one morning I took my journal, headphones, bible and phone and made my way to the beach. I was listening to some worship music and writing down some thoughts about the week and what I was feeling. For the most part, I enjoy journaling. It’s a great way for me to process through my experiences and thoughts for that day. But this time, I put my pen down, and just waited for the Lord to speak to me.
Across from where I was sitting, I could see a jetty and the waves fiercely crashing on it. As I waited for the next wave to crash, the Lord had impressed something on my heart. As he began to speak to me I started writing. This is what I wrote down:
“Look at the waves, how fierce they crash. That is how my love is for you Christa. My love for you is just as fierce as those waves. I love you so much but you will not believe me. You’re still trying to earn my love. You are hard on yourself, why? Don’t you know my power is made perfect in weakness? I know you crave me in your deepest being. At the core of who you are, you long for me. I am here Christa. I’ve never left and I won’t leave.”
The Lord spoke to me a lot during my time at the beach. He reminded me that even as these waves crashed on the jetty, the rocks did not move. They did not fall apart. They did not buckle under the wave. They were not consumed by it.
Not only did the Lord show me how great his love was for me (again) but how much his love has kept me firm in him. I can’t be shaken just like that jetty because he is my rock! He showed me that as firm as those rocks were is how firm I am in him. MIND BLOWN.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4: 7- 9,
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, nut not destroyed.”
During the race I’ve realized more and more each day how much I need him.
I REALLY NEED HIM!
I’ve had to solely depend on God for everything. But even in the most difficult times I can know that I am standing on a foundation that will never be moved. God is in control of every circumstance. He goes before me and knows my every questions, every request before I even utter the words. God has taught me that even in my weaknesses I am standing on the rock who is Jesus Christ. I don’t have to do more or do less. I don’t have to worry if I am strong enough to overcome my struggles. I don’t have to work harder to gain his love. I am already with him and he is with me.
For anyone who is struggling in their walk with the Lord, for anyone who feels like they’re just not strong enough to follow him, or if any of you are doubting that he is still there… I want you to know you are standing on him, still. You’ll never be snatched away from his hand ( John 10:29). Remember who you belong to.
And guess what?
He does not waver in his love for you. He does not give up when times get too hard. He is the rock. Holy. Perfect. Good. Almighty. Loving.
BE ENCOURAGED.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
Matthew 7: 24-25
Continue to be praying for my team and our squad. We are half way into the race which is unbelievable to me! Thank you for all your support again.
Blessings xoxo
