::faithfulness::

every monday night i have night class from 6:15 to 8:15.

so, naturally, i am no longer able to attend FCA.

which saddens me quite a bit, because these students bring such joy to my heart.

i am simply amazed by the fire that has been set aflame within their hearts.

this week, i am on spring break.

oh, how joyful i was to have the opportunity to attend FCA this monday night.

my good friend, micah, took the stage this evening.

and, as usual, i was simply blown away.

the LORD has truly taken hold of this man's heart.

and that was plainly expressed with every word he uttered tonight.

this evening, the LORD spoke through micah in order to convey this concept of faithfulness to these set-aflame  students.

but, this specific faithfulness was no orthodox teaching of the simple truth of our God faithfulness to us, but rather an eye-opener to the often overlooked, second part of the equation: our faithfulness to this God. 

you see, when this world weighs down upon us, we tend to break.

reaching one of two options: hold on or give up.

and many times, we choose the latter, in spite of the hope found in the first.

we abandon all we have held firmly to.

we run, in our weakness, away from the very healer and protector of our souls.

we seek out anything to numb the pain. anything to take it away. 

anything but the One who can do all.

"if He is so powerful, why does he allow this pain to consume my life?"

"if He loves me so dearly, why doesn't He heal me?"

why? why? why?

but maybe, just maybe, we are asking the wrong questions.

you see, to me, this LORD is powerful, mighty, strong, loving, and desperate.

yes, desperate...for you.

the LORD of the universe desires for you to turn to Him!

in your time of desperation, He is desperate for you.

how comforting. how encouraging. how beautiful.

in the midst of my suffering, this God desires to heal me.

He desires to prove His faithfulness to me, but (yes, there is always a but)

His faithfulness is deeply connected to ours.

His desperation is deeply rooted in ours.

For this LORD will never force himself upon us.

instead, we must choose Him.

we must choose His way. we must choose His healing. we must choose Him.

and once we choose Him, we will be completely stilled by all that He brings, by all that He is.

"you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13 

this world is broken. full of pain and anguish. along with anger and resentment.

some bitterness and torment. rage quickly followed by a downfall of tears.

suffering in its rawest form.

this is what we experience.

every single day. millions of people across this planet suffer.

the question is, will you choose to remain faithful to your LORD through it all?

will you believe in His love?

will you trust in His plan?

will you abandon Him in your time of need?

or will you heed His desperation through your own?