I hesitate to write about this, but it was the best part of my day so far, and was so sweet to my soul that I wanted to share.  The reason I hesitate is because it could sound like I’m “tooting my own horn”, but that is not how I see it.  I see it as a direct praise toward God and His faithfulness, His “showing up”, His intimate love, and the amazing fact that He truly wants to be in relationship with us.

I talked to my friend on the phone today.  Before we hung up, she said, “Can I tell you one more thing?”  She shared with me that she loved to be with me because I see God’s hand in every situation.  And I can honestly say that for the most part that is true.  And that is not because of anything that I have done, but because of all that God has done in and around me.  How can I not look for Him when He shows up every single time?  At my ugliest, my most beat up, He brought back beauty and healing.  At my saddest moments, my times of deepest grief, He brought new joy and comfort.  At my most anxious times of despair, He brought back peace and rest. When I completely missed the mark and messed up badly, He brought correction and a new sense of direction. And in my times of sheer ecstasy, He shared my glee, my indescribable joy, my smile out loud moments.  And every day and moment in between is filled with His very presence, His answers to prayers, His very own words, His precious people.

Do I enjoy intimacy with God?  Absolutely!  Do I love talking about Him and His goodness and love?  You can’t stop me!  But does that mean I have arrived spiritually and no longer struggle?  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Different days bring different struggles.  Different successes.  Different failures.  But each day brings the very same God.  He shows up every single time.  How can I not see Him all around me, at work in the good, the bad and the in between times?

So thank you, friend, for your very sweet words.  But they don’t belong to me.  They belong to the One who holds my gaze, my attention and my affection.  Jesus.  The love of my life…