Promise Keeper

2018. 

Here we are, at the very end.

Some time ago, someone told me about the biblical significance of numbers.  Ever since then, I have often researched and clung to those numbers as a symbol of hope and validation to the promises I felt God was speaking to my heart. 

Eight is the number of new beginnings.  At the beginning of 2018, I felt God prodding that this would be the year that the tides would shift.  I fell headlong into His promise that, after so long apart, our family would all be together.  And I rejoiced in anticipation of watching Him make a way where there seemed to be no way. 

Of course, as the year dragged on, my courage waned.  I marched around the mountain shaking my fists and shouting in despair.  Wanting to hold tight to the promise I knew had been spoken to my heart, but also feeling defeated as the light at the end of the tunnel seemed further and further away. 

“God, you promised!!  You said this would be the year!!” 

I watched as all of the natural markers of times I expected Him to come through came and went with no breakthrough.  My best laid plans crumbling time and time and time again.  In frustration, I kept marching.  “You promised!  Don’t you love us??  Don’t you want our family to be together??”

The tears were many.  The impatience overt and exhausting.  2018 was supposed to be the year!

And this morning, as I stood in worship and sung out with hands raised…

And far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can’t see

And this mountain that’s in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And through it all, through it all
It is well…

So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name

I felt Him simply whisper, “I kept my word.”

Here we stood on the very last Sunday in 2018, home.  Together.  On the other side of the mountain.

Did it look like I’d pictured?  Not one bit.  But He kept His word.

He always keeps His word. 

Maybe you also find yourself in the waiting.  Maybe you’re marching around the mountain shaking your fists and stomping your feet and searching for the breakthrough. 

Hang on.  It’s coming.  He always keeps His word.

The key to living in the abundant life is to remember that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways.  (Admittedly, I still often find myself providing suggestions more often than I should.)

When we can hold tight to this concept…

When we can understand and operate under the idea that He sees a much bigger picture than we could ever begin to imagine…

When we finally let go and trust…

When we relinquish our plans and rest in His promise…

Well that, friends, is when He does His best work.  Keep marching– and watch the mountains move…