Tonight I was driving home from my book club (love my GPBC gals!) and Jesus just decided it was time to have a one-on-one with my heart. I was listening to Laura Story's song
Blessings and boy did it speak volumes to me.
As per the usual, when Jesus is speaking that loudly and that directly -- I'm was in tears. But it was the good kind of tears. The cleansing kind. The fortifying kind.
Lately I've been dealing with a lot. I feel like I'm always dealing with a lot, and more often than not I'm convinced my lot in life is so much harder than those around me. And maybe in some ways it is. But geez, am not extraordinarily blessed? How much good is in my life despite the trials? SO much I tell you. But oh how I forget.
But tonight Jesus reminded me --
what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know Your near?
Is that why I'm not sleeping God? Is it because I so easily forget what's really important. I so easily rely on the things of this world when I really ought to be relying on you because I'm so quick to forget You are here for me? Always.
What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?
How often that has been that case... It's not a lie when I say I've always felt like on the other side of my hard times comes great things. That almost tit-for-tat I can run through the bad things and find the good that comes on the other side. That doesn't make going through the bad any easier. Any less painful.
Below is the song Jesus found a way into my heart tonight through. You don't need to be a Christian to listen to it. So I ask of you -- please take a moment to listen. Maybe Jesus is looking for a way to speak to your heart tonight too. xxoo.
If nothing else, skip to the very bottom for something else.
And for those who'd like to see the lyrics:
We pray for blessings, we pray for peace.
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, prosperity.
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.
All the while, You hear each spoken need.
Your love is too way too much to give us lesser things.
Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?
We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love.
As if every promise from Your word is not enough.
All, the while, You hear each desperate plea.
And long that we'd have faith to believe.
Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?
When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win;
We know that pain reminds this heart, that this is not, this is not our home.
It's not our home.
Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life;
Is a revealing of greater thirst that a world can't satisfy?
Start reading again here:
All of this said -- if you're in the DC metro area this holiday season and you don't have a church home... you've not found your place in this world and you're desperate for something better.... you can't even fathom who God is, and it seems like the most unrealistic thing in the world to think that there's a God who would give his son Christ Jesus to die on a cross for YOU -- for your sins... then please accept my humble invitation to come to church with me. I belong to a great church family at
DC Metro Church. I know it's not the place for everyone, but the people and the experience is amazing.
You don't need to be a believer. You don't even need to think you have a chance of ever believing. You just need a pause in your heart to be willing to give something a try because you're so ready for something better. I promise you, if you're going through a bunch of crappy things right now (like me) -- there's something better to come. Even if you don't believe there's a God out there who can help make things better.
I may just be talking to myself right now, but know this is a personal invitation to YOU. I feel so compelled to write this right now, that I know it's for YOU even if you're still not sure.
Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
