Make known what He has done!
As we draw near to our annual Thanksgiving Celebration, the word thanksgiving has been on everyone’s lips. We have been meditating on it. We are busy preparing and planning. Reading everyone’s notes on our tribute wall is so refreshing and encouraging.
I have read of blessings, big and small. Breakthroughs and healing and everything in between. We honour and praise God for His goodness and for each and every one of your lives.
I cannot help but think of those of you who have been experiencing a drought or desert season, where there is no big breakthrough and you feel like you are barely making ends meet. The wall in the church feels like the elephant in the room and you just cannot pass it by quickly enough.
If this is you, I want to encourage you today – do not give up hope. Do not turn away from God. Keep believing. Keep trusting. In her book, How did I get here?, Christine Caine says it so well.
“True lament is a form of prayer and surrender. It is a form of worship because it comes to God instead of turning away from God. So often when we face pain, we go the other way. We distance. Lament doesn’t distance. Lament draws near. And as it does, it doesn’t accuse God’s character but takes refuge in His character. It doesn’t say, “God, you aren’t good,” but “God, I don’t understand.” It doesn’t say, “God, I am turning from you because I don’t trust you,”, but “God, I am turning to you because I do.”. Lament is a sacrifice of worship. It’s a gateway to deeper trust. It is a declaration, “Yet I will trust you… Yet I will praise You!”
So, as the year draws to an end, and you might be discouraged, I want to encourage you with this Scripture.
James 1:12 TPT “If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!
God’s measure of victory and success is so different to ours. Let’s keep drawing near to Him, and ask Him to enable us to see what He sees when we look at our circumstances, our family, our spouses, our jobs, our missed opportunities or the complete lack of opportunities.
Yet we will trust Him. Yet we will praise Him. He is good. He is faithful. He is our provider, our shelter and our help in time of need. Draw near to Him!
We are trusting God to reveal Himself to you in such a profound and special way as you slow down after a fast paced year. Be blessed and continue making known what God has done and is busy doing and what you are trusting Him to do in your life.
We love you!
– Ps Reuben and Aneen