Nothing is Wasted

Over the years I've learned there is no other way to start the day than in prayer.  After praying for my usuals, I consider who to add.  Lately several friends have been in the front of my mind and top of my list.  They all have something in common.  They have experienced pain.  They are not sure of their future.  They seek peace.  They need strength and healing.  They want God to show up.  Life is hard.

The enemy torments and tries to get us to second guess our situations.  Did I take a wrong turn?  Did we do something wrong?  Is God listening?  Has He forgotten me?  What do I need to do to get back into His good graces?  When will God reappear?

These are difficult seasons to navigate through.  I speak from experience and have asked all those questions.  God's Word is full of promises that turn our eyes back to the real truth which is that we are going to face difficulties.  Even suffer.  Jesus taught this repeatedly.  Sometimes we are going to get ourselves into trouble and sometimes it will find us through no fault of our own. And other times He lovingly allows us to go through trials with the purpose of growing us and showing that we can not only survive hard things, but thrive.

So remember this:
God will be with us. No matter what.
He will carry us.  No matter what.
He's always been faithful to His promises and His people. No matter what.
We need not fear. No matter what.
Peace is ours. No matter what.
He never leaves us. No matter what.
He welcomes us back when we stray.  No matter what.
He keeps no record of wrongs. No matter what.
He loves us.  No matter what.   
He. Loves. You. No matter what.

If He sent His one and only son to die on a cross for our sins (and He did), purchasing our freedom and eternity in His presence (and He did), He will never turn away from us. Not when we make a wrong turn or a poor choice and not when life simply caves in and we don't know what hit us.  He will always reach out for us.

It's possible to survive these draughts.  Here's a few sure-fire hints that have helped and are helping me.

1.  Get in God's presence and read His Word every day and/or as often as possible.
2.  Ask friends to pray for you.  Not that it will be over as quickly as possible, but that you can endure to reach the destiny/maturity/prize God has appointed you. (James 1:4, 12)
3.  Listen to Christian music.

These are in order of importance, but #3 is a biggie for me.  As one with little to no musical skill (my family will 'amen' that), music is a huge part of my life.  I need it.  Most every day I walk my neighborhood with a stacked ipod cranking in my earbuds.  Many days I marvel at which songs show up in the shuffle.  So often they are exactly what my hungry soul needs to hear.  How does God do that? The lyrics redirect my wandering heart and clear up my muddled mind.  The tunes energize me, make me sing out loud, even raise hands as I'm walking, and send my spirit soaring lifting me up out of the dumps.  Don't worry...I pretend no one can see or hear me.  These God-focused songs are always medicine and sometimes a cure.

Here's my latest favorite song.  I stop everything when it comes on the radio and finally tonight talked my husband into buying it for me - so it's on the ipod for tomorrow's walk!  You may be surprised it's not by a certain favorite band I may have mentioned once or twice.

At a concert a few months ago, we heard the artist sing this song.  Scott wasn't sitting with me and as soon as the song ended, he texted me, "nothing is wasted".  We needed to hear that. It may become the Burtis theme song for this season.

If you have three minutes, why don't you settle into your chair and listen to it, reading the words as it plays?  It might be just what you need to hear today.

listen here 

Nothing Is Wasted by Jason Gray
I highlighted some of my favorite lines :)

The hurt that broke your heart
And left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone
Will tell you hope's a lie
But what if every tear you cry
Will seed the ground where joy will grow

And nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

It's from the deepest wounds
That beauty finds a place to bloom
And you will see before the end
That every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus
And what's lost will be found again

Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

From the ruins
From the ashes
Beauty will rise
From the wreckage
From the darkness
Glory will shine
Glory will shine

Looks like I've highlighted just about the whole song.  Can't you see why?

"He knows us far better than we know ourselves...and keeps us present before God.  That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."  Rom. 8:27,28  Nothing is wasted.