Day 78: Emmanuel

Hosea 4:1-5:15

2 John 1:1-13

Psalm 125:1-5

Proverbs 29:9-11

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." Psalm 125:1-5

Those who trust in the Lord...cannot be shaken and endure forever.

Trusting God is a loaded concept. And by that I don't mean that it is sensitive, touchy, or something to hold cautiously. I mean, it is weighty, it's full, it's brimming. Trusting God is solid, it's whole, it's a mountain.

In my life lately there have been a lot of moments where I just needed to trust God. Doors were being closed in my face left and right... and I had to trust that God was closing doors because He had another door in mind.

Right now I think I am in a place that God wants me...I've walked through opened doors and here I am. But still I have to trust God.

In all of these different points of my recent story, the present included, trusting God was meat. It wasn't a watered down supplement to get me through moment by moment without falling apart. It was meat, steak, something to chew on and something to sustain me in a long winded marathon.

Life is not easy. And you can embroider "trust God" on a flowery pillow and I'd probably buy it because that sounds cute...but "trusting God" is not a dainty sing-songy mantra. It's a lifestyle and it's the only lifestyle. Life is not easy, we have to trust God.

As I blog everyday the daily-ness of life has been highlighted for me. I become surprised when my mood and perspective changes day-by-day and I don't necessarily think that's a testament to maturing as I read the Word. In fact, some days I come more disinterested in the Word than the day before.

Trusting God as a daily practice is a daily. practice. I am not up to the task everyday. I am more inclined to pout and complain on a daily basis than say, "God I trust You."

Life is hard. But here's the thing: not only is trusting God our only real life style option, it's actually the most fulfilling life style there is. It may feel like a task everyday but God is faithful and He is trustworthy!

As I think about Christmas I think about how long the Israelites waited. "O come, O come Emmanuel." They waited and waited and trusted and trusted and it was very, very hard. But they trusted in God and God answered.

Emmanuel, He came. Jesus came.

And He will come again.