God is so Good

This morning, after a rough day knowing the stay/go decision is coming up, I read this in my devotions:

“They (the Israelites) even spoke against God himself, saying, ‘God can’t give us food in the wilderness. Yes he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat. When the Lord heard them he was furious . . . for they did not believe God or trust him to care for them.” (Psalm 78:20-22).

After all God had done for them – rescuing them from the Egyptians, parting the red sea and even causing water to gush from a rock – they didn’t trust him to feed them. Would God really lead them out only to kill them?

Yet, in the midst of trouble they worried. Can’t really fault them too much. I do the same.

In the midst of trouble here, I worry. I wonder how I’m going to make a decision and whether or not it will be the right one. I wonder how I’ll ever figure out moving in Japan if I leave or if I’ll explode with frustration over poor teaching techniques and short sighted teaching (teaching just for the test).

But God has done so much for me already. How can I not trust God? He’s never backed out on a promise yet.
 


How do you remember to trust God in the mist of trouble? 

Another song . . .

Despite not being a type of song I would normally like, the lyrics of this song have really struck home.

These being my favorite lyrics:
“In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed”

“But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use”

Among these things she lists all the “stuff.” For me, small frustrations happen all the time, I needed this reminder that I’m to trust God in these things despite what the situation looks like.

What situations? Well, a big variety.

• A missed flight, running around the airport, and an expensive solution
• Twisting my knee on the ski slope today
• Frustrations with my teaching situation
• Catching a cold
• Hitting a deer with my car
• etc.

All of that? Well despite it, God has still blessed me in so many bigger ways. I have to remember to fix my eyes on him in those places and he will take care of all the rest.
He always does.

Never Look Away

Yet again, I find myself floored at how a song speaks to me. This song, another by KJ-52, is called Never Look Away. KJ-52 is not an artist I would normally listen to, yet the Lord used it.

“I once was lost but then You found me and loved me
And I'm never gonna look away
No I'm never gonna look away
You paid the cost You showed me how You bought me
And I'm never gonna look away
No I'm never gonna look away”
–Never Look Away (KJ-52 featuring Brynn Sanchez)

There are times when life is difficult and it’s hard to be so far away from all the people that I love. But every time this starts to feel overwhelming, the Lord reminds me that I need to keep looking at him and he will provide for me. Whatever it is I think I need, he will provide what I need. And usually that looks like peace. Peace amidst troubles. Peace amidst worry. Peace against all odds.

“I’m never gonna look away.” So easy to say and intend to mean. But most of the time when the distance feels overwhelming it’s because I’ve not realized I’ve looked away. I start to focus on the worries of this world instead of the things the Lord has promised.

I can do all things in Christ – Philippians 4:13
He has good plans for me with a hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
If I trust in Him with all that I am and don’t lean on my own understanding, he will guide my steps. – Proverbs 3:5-6
Cast all my cares on him, he will take care of them because he cares about me – 1 Peter 5:7
Seek him first and he will supply for my needs – Matthew 6:33
His power works best in my weakness – 2 Corinthians 12:9

These are paraphrased by me. They seem that much more real to me when I repeat things that the Lord has spoken to me in the past and recently.

His provision? It’s here. From making some closer friends here, to finding a JTE who goes to an amazing church. It’s not hard to see. I just have to remember to focus on the things the Lord has done in my life and not let go of those things when the storms of life hit.

Links:
Lyrics
Video

Shuffle

Last weekend I put my iPod on shuffle while on the train to visit a friend. Right before getting off, I found this song:

“I know some things that might bring your life stress.
And you're concerned about what's coming next,
Feeling so worried 'cause your whole life's a mess.
I want to tell you, you can make it through all this.
He'll never fail you, that's what he promised us
And even when things don't seem to make sense
That's the time when you hang on now you just trust.”
(He is All by KJ-52)

I was amazed, because it was like the Lord was speaking to me though these lyrics. I was having a tough time with the idea of being so far away from family, friends and my church for a whole year. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to be here anymore. But more than that, I didn’t want to let homesickness/fear get in the way of trusting the Lord. He directed my steps. He has me right where he wants me for his purposes.

In hearing those words, I was reminded that it may be hard, but he will be with me through it all. He is my strength. In the tough “just send me home now” moments and in the “I love this I could stay here for 5 years no problem” moments, he’s with me. He’ll provide what I need. Whether it’s deep friendships or encouragement in him. He’ll provide.

He already has. I just have to look back in my journal in the time since I got here to see that he is moving in me. He has provided me with encouragement through several friends here. My Japanese is improving. He has given me a church, which was beyond my expectations.

It doesn’t matter how I feel. “He’ll never fail you, that’s what he promised us.” I just have to hang on to the things I know when I feel unsure about what is going on around me or what I can handle and he will get me through.

So when I feel like I’m in over my head and I can’t make it for however long the Lord wants me here, “That's the time when you hang on now you just trust.” He’ll pull me through the tough times.

Links:
Hear the song

See the lyrics

And a new photo:

A temple that the Lord used to remind me how great he is. To read more, click the photo.