Turmoil: A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.
Sometimes, life can feel like such turmoil. Have you ever felt that? When you are a “good person”, and you feel like you are doing all the right things, but life just doesn’t seem to be working out it can definitely feel like turmoil. But I want to ask you to re-direct your thoughts for a moment.
Have you ever put together a large jigsaw puzzle? Our family loves to work on them together, and I’ve actually learned a lot from this process. First, I realized that when I get focused on a puzzle, I have a refusal to give up and stay ultra-focused until I see it begin to take shape. Second, when you first pour a puzzle out on the table, it looks like a whole bunch of nothing. It looks like a confusing mess.
If your life is feeling like it’s out of whack and seems confusing and/or very uncertain, then maybe it’s because you are still needing to wait for more pieces to be put into place before it begins to take shape.
In other words, don’t throw in the towel when you are standing in what seems like disarray. What if instead, you began to lean into the Author of your life and ask Him to give you small glimpses of the beauty to come. Just like when you are able to piece together a small section of a jigsaw puzzle. Even if you don’t quite know where that section goes in the puzzle, it gives you a sense of hope and satisfaction to see something begin to take shape.
God will do this for you. I am fully confident that He will give you a glimpse of the glory to come, if you only ask. Recently during church, I asked God for just such a thing. As I sat with my eyes closed, I suddenly saw light all around me, and I saw Chris and I standing in the doorway of our house. We had our arms around each other’s waists as we looked out. Then I saw a beautiful little brown-haired girl, probably around 6 or 7 years old, running toward us with a smile of delight on her face and her arms stretched out to the sides as if to embrace us. In a way only God can communicate, I knew she was my granddaughter. The whole scene had a very peaceful atmosphere and I heard the word “settled” as I watched this scene unfold. I knew in an instance that God was again, reassuring me that we would not only make it through this season, but that we would thrive! Isn’t our God a good Father?! Oh, how I love the way He loves me.
Prayer Moment: If you are in a season that feels ripe with turmoil, then I encourage you to take a moment right now, close your eyes and ask God to give you a glimpse of where you are heading. Ask Him to reassure you, once again, that you are on the right path. Then wait. Wait until you begin to see something, or hear something, or feel something and then do something very brave…..believe it. Believe what He shows you. If you want to take it a step further, go and tell someone what you saw. Something amazing happens when we begin to share, out loud, the promises God has shown us. Will you try it? I sure hope you do. I know you won’t be disappointed.
Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10b
365 Days in the Presence 