For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”  Zephaniah 3:17

Life has tough times

There are things in this world that will break our hearts and make us wonder if we can survive them.  While my family is doing ok, many corners of my neighborhood are not.  From a devastating diagnosis, to the death of a dad, and financial struggles that leave families wondering where to go from here, brokenness exists and rears its ugly head daily.  Life changes in an instant, and we are left to pick up the pieces. I am reminded everyday that this world is not our home.

This world will try and take us out.  It will try and steal our hope and cause us to lose faith.  We need to walk close to our God so we can be reminded that he is ever present.  The more we surround ourselves with him, (through music, friendships, and quiet time in his word and prayer), the stronger the foundation will be when the hard times come.

Matthew 7:24–27 teaches us “everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

God is with us

I love the verse in Zephaniah 3.  So often we can feel like disappointments. Like we have let people or God down.  Sometimes we may feel like we have let ourselves down. 

There are also people who didn’t have the best upbringing.  There was no father who was proud of them. 

When tough times hit, I can feel alone. Isolated in my own thoughts and concerns. While God hasn’t moved, I can wonder where is God now?

I picture this scripture in my head. I see our heavenly father, who delights in us.  He is glad we are around, and happy to call us his own.  In brokenness, he carries us. As we grow more like him, He is there cheering us on. When we fall short he is there to help us get up, shake off the dust, and guide us on the path again.

Romans 8:38-39  reminds us that “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

He stills the fear within us, and replaces it with peace.  In the midst of horrible situations he can bring us a peace that surpasses understanding (Phil 4:7).  His Holy Spirit whispers to our souls, “I am here”. When we feel beyond repair, he mends our hearts and opens our eyes to see restoration in our lives.

The next time life hits hard, remember God loves you and is singing over you.  He is holding you tight until life rights itself again.