Of Shaking Up and The Truth of Being Held

Life is so fragile.

Sometimes it feels like the slightest alteration or shake of the branches could change everything. That you could be sent plummeting down, out of control, until the sudden stop of the earth below makes you crash to pieces in this mess.

Knowing this, feeling it....scares me. 

Sometimes, I feel like I’m just clinging to this fragile bit of life, hoping that nothing changes. 

That nothing falls.

 But the clinging and gripping so tight can exhaust you.

And really, we all know that it doesn't change anything.

 

I had a phone conversation with my Mom today. We both have heartbreaking and confusing burdens on our hearts. Situations that happened (and are happening) that have changed our lives forever. Ones we love are hurting, or hurting themselves and it's hard to watch. Especially when there is nothing you, in yourself, can do to make a difference. 

And as we talked we reminded one another of these truths:

God is in control.

We can't see His whole plan.

Life here will not be perfect. One day in glory it will be, but not now. 

These truths don't change what we're going through, but they do give us peace and rest in the knowing and applying of them. 

In the midst of this frail life, with it's burdens and heartaches, there is One who holds it all together. 

The winds blowing and shaking and changing our lives are controlled by Him.

And sometimes we need a strong gust of His love to pry our fingers loose and teach us how to let go. 

After all, He's the One holding our life together, not the other way around. 

And when we fall, we're not left to be swallowed up by the pain of it. 

He is there. 

We just have to let Him put us back together with His love, and in His timing.

How beautiful then does all this fragility become?

Yes, we have no control.

Yes, our lives can change in a instant.

But this I know.... 

that Jesus loves me so.

And maybe He made all us frail ones to show the world His immense and constant power working through us. Maybe realizing our weakness shouldn't frighten us, but empower us. It can give us the wisdom to let go of this life, with it's inconsistencies and pain, and cling even more so to the One who will always hold us.

Jesus. 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

(John 10:27-30 ESV)


Oh, and if you need more truth, please go read the post entitled, "The Christmas Miracle He will Not Withhold From You" by Ann Voskamp. I read it the other day and it's just what we all need to hear. 

p.s. Will you pray for us Rodgers? There's a situation, a shaking of our branches, that's happening now. I apologize for lack of detail but just know that it's very near and dear to our hearts. And it's painful to watch. We can honestly say we don't know what God's will is concerning it, and we're a little scared. But we can trust in Him, as hard as that might be, 'cause we can't see what He sees in the future. Pray for His grace upon us as we wait for His will to unfold.