{Reflection}. *to think quietly and calmly. *to express a thought or opinion resulting from reflection

A rainy, cold December evening it was and in that upstairs bedroom, flung upon the bed was a young lady, weeping from what felt like endless heartache.

~Would she ever be loved?

~Would someone ever care?

~Was life even really worth living?

These thoughts and many more ran endlessly through her mind, as she lay there, trying to comprehend what had just taken place that evening. Yet another verbal attack, it always felt like there surely could be none worse then the last, yet tonight’s episode had proven to be the worst one yet.

The holidays just seemed to be a stark reminder that not all was well, that those closest about her seemed to all be at odds with each other. Weren’t the holidays to be a time of rejoicing, a time of gathering together and enjoying each other’s company? She would have gladly welcomed a break from the pain of the day’s events, but where would she find that?

Two years later, it was December once again and the young lady sat at her kitchen table feeling the same in her heart as was the outside atmosphere, cold and dark.

The holidays were here once again and the same feelings were there, followed with:

Emptiness

Coldness

Loneliness

Sadness

Would this cycle ever end?

What was with the holidays that made it seem like such a hard time?

Fast forward to 8 years later, the year is now 2020 and it’s once again December, the very last day to be exact.

Things are a bit different for the young lady, lots of change in the 8 years and as she reflects, over the past year, there is a very noticeable pattern, it’s a pattern of God’s Mercy, Faithfulness and Love, it’s woven through all 366 days of the past year. What a year it was, but what Faithfulness from God also.

Now she reflects back over the past 10 years and she also sees a pattern, God’s Mercy, Faithfulness, and Love is intricately woven through every day of her life. There’s been much healing, the road has not been easy at all, but the Grace and Strength of God has been a very real art of it all. The holidays are still a bit difficult but every year is another step of healing and obedience.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭

So however the past year was for you, and let’s be honest, 2020 was a year to remember. I challenge you to take a few minutes and reflect over the past 366 days, don’t focus on all negative, instead focus on where God was faithful in the hard, the impossible, I promise you will find it.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Do you ever find yourself waiting for the perfect time?

The perfect time to encourage someone.

The perfect time to pray with someone.

The perfect time to tell someone about Jesus.

The perfect time to hear from God?

The truth is there is no perfect time, but there is the present time.

Like the time I was slicing bread and God gave me the words for this post. Inspiration can be given at anytime and not always what seems to be the most convenient of times either.

I have heard from others that God has spoken to them in the shower, I mean one can’t really have a pen and paper in the shower to write but you get the point. God speaks anywhere at anytime. Are we listening or is it too inconvenient for our schedule?

Do you have time for a story?

Yes?

Great!

A little over two years ago, I was walking to the mailbox to get the mail and God spoke. It was a word I will never ever forget, it was so clear, as if you and I were having this conversation in person.

So about the word from the Lord, let me give you a bit of back story first.

There was a widower in my community and some dear people had been hinting that I would be a good match for him, and apparently a lot of people,thought that would be a great idea, basically everyone but myself. I wanted nothing to do with the idea, absolutely nothing. I mean, nothing personal I just didn’t care to have anything to do with guys at that season in my life, but God was about to change that too.

So I am walking to the mailbox to check the mail and this is what God said, “My daughter, there is a part of your heart that you have given me, but there’s also a part that you have not given me and that is the part that would be allowing a man to care for you”

That was the Word, it wasn’t one I wanted to hear but there It was. Not a fancy moment, and for sure not perfect timing in my opinion but it was a word from the Lord.

The point is, God will speak, but are we willing to listen? It’s not about you walking to your mailbox now to see if God will speak to you, it’s about you being obedient and walking forward in the season you are in, no matter how unpleasant or perfect it seems.

Listen.

Obey.

Walk.

The God of the Universe does want to commune with you, are you willing to listen and receive?