God Can

"When you can't find the answers to 

All your doubts and fears

God Can

When you are needing someone to

Wipe away your tears

God can

God can do more than you

Could ever ask or think

He holds the power in His mighty hand

When you can't see your way

Just remember this my friend

God can"

I have been a bit discouraged these past few weeks, and today I received a card in the mail with these words from a song printed on the back. These words brought tears to my eyes because I am so grateful that God loves me enough to care what is going on in my life. In hard times, we just have to give it all to HIm and trust that He will work things out for the good of those who love him(Romans 8:28). It is so reassuring to know that in our weakness, Christ is made stronger(2 Cor 12:9-10). I am so glad that I can depend on God to take care of things that I could never handle on my own.

My way or the highway!

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

~Proverbs 16:9

Have you ever had something planned out so perfectly in your head, only to have it happen completely differently from how you had planned?

I know I have. I have found that usually when this happens, I ask God why He doesn't want me to get what I want. This is so selfish of me, but I do it anyways! Who am I to think that I can make a better plan than the God of the universe?! It is way easier to SAY that you are seeking God's will than to actually BE seeking His will. I continually find myself getting bent out of shape when something does not go my way, but I have to learn that God has bigger plans than I do. His plans are based upon his omniscience (His all-knowing nature), so there is an indicator that His plans are way better. I never know everything about a particular situation, but He knows everything there is to know about anything! Wow! That is mind-blowing and very reassuring if you ask me. I am glad that I serve a God who cares about me so much that he does what is best for me, even when I don't necessarily understand it at the time. Who knows what all would go wrong if I got my way all the time :) 

Why Do I Doubt?

So being where I am right now has been exceedingly difficult for me. I don't particularly like the school I am attending, and dorm life certainly is not for me (whether it's for anyone, I'm not sure).  I have been back at school for about a week after a nice break spent at home with the family. This week has been tough, and, I will admit, I has been a very teary one. At the beginning of the week, when I first recognized how upset being back at school makes me, I started to turn to other people for comfort and encouragement, but within the last couple of days I have realized that, while other people can bring me comfort to some degree, only Christ can bring me the comfort and contentment that I crave! So, why don't I ever turn to Him first? Because I am selfish, I convince myself that I can handle it, and I'm stubborn, and I am not trusting God with every part of my life-That is sin! 

Yesterday morning, I was beginning to feel down again, but this time I did turn to God first. I prayed that He would bring me encouragement, and guess what?! He definitely did! After my classes, one of my best friends called me and we decided to go to the rec center and get some exercise. We had a great talk while we were there, and I realized that she is struggling with many of the same things I am. We decided to become "accountability partners," and also that we would be having these "exercise talks" more often :)

It was a Thurs. night, so that meant that it was time for Campus Crusade- our first meeting of the semester. I went, just expecting it to be a normal meeting I guess. We got there and sang a few worship songs, and then one of the leaders announced that we would be watching a Louie(?) Giglio video in which Louie would tell the story of a girl named Ashley. I don't really have time to tell the whole story for you, but you should definitely check it out on youtube or something. Basically, a non-believer, Ashley, who is going through a hard time, is writing in her journal about her new roommate who is a Christian. At first, Ashley is making fun of her roommate constantly, but she begins to wonder why this girl is so different than most people her age. Eventually, Ashley asks her roommate about the difference in her life, and the roommate shares the Gospel with her. Over the course of about two weeks, Ashley goes from hating Christians, hating church, and hating God, to accepting Christ into her own life. Ashley is killed in a car crash a few months after this.  When he was done telling Ashley's story, Louie said something that really stuck with me. He said that if you are like Ashley's roommate, don't give up hope because you never know how close someone is.

Wow. God is good. Those are exactly the words that I needed to hear. You see, all this past semester, I have been struggling with sharing the Gospel with my lost roommate. I pray for her, try to show her God's love, and try to seize opportunities to speak with her about what I believe. I hope that she sees something different in me, but I know that, ultimately, it is God who will draw her to himself.  It's the same for all the other students on campus who I come in contact with each and every day. Even if I don't see any fruit, I won't give up because I never know how God is working in someone's heart. 

Trust God because He can do great and mighty things! He is working in the ways that we least expect, and it is so worth it to wait for Him. He hears our prayers and is faithful to answer them. Don't be discouraged and don't worry! How Great is Our God!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

~Philippians 4:6-7

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; 

yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 

I will ponder all your work, 

and meditate on your mighty deeds. 

Your way, O God, is holy. 

What God is great like our God?

 You are the God who works wonders; 

you have made known your might 

among the peoples."

~Psalm 77:11-14

~Lindsey