He is Near

Like I’ve mentioned before, waiting can be very difficult. I have found in my own life that waiting for God’s timing can be extremely difficult. My three year adventure in searching for a job has been extremely frustrating. It has worn me out and at times I have been completely overwhelmed. The world doesn’t stop simply because I do not have the job that I need to support myself. It has been rough and that’s putting it lightly. While I am still waiting for God to answer my prayer for a job that would provide for all my needs, I know that God hears me and I know that he sees what I am going though. I know this because he has consistently provided just enough for me. I have always had a roof over my head and I have never gone hungry. There has always been just enough. I know and believe that God has a purpose and a plan for all of this! If you are struggling right now with waiting on an answer from the Lord, know that you are not alone. It is tough, but God is faithful and he is right there with you each and every step of the way. I have seen it in my own life! Psalm 75, starts out with praise. It serves as a good reminder that God is always with us. “We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds” (1) That verse is just an example of how telling others about the hope you have inside you can give them hope in even the darkest circumstances. God doesn’t simply forget about you or ignore you. He is always with you. He sees your tears and he hears your cries. He is near, not just when we struggle, but all the time. The next two verses seem to be an answer to all the questions that Asaph raised in Psalm 74, it reminds us of God’s sovereignty and brings our focus back onto the one who is ultimately in control of everything. “God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps the foundations firm” (2-3) God’s timing is always the right time because his plans are part of a much greater plan. His ways are higher than ours. He is aware of far more than we are when we come up with our plans. We can only comprehend the present, but God sees everything. Everyday has been designed, orchestrated, and planned by him. Yes, there are things that happen in our lives that are difficult to deal with. We live in a sinful, imperfect world; difficult things are bound to happen and it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love you, or he is angry with you, or anything else your mind may be trying to tell you that goes against the character of God. God never changes. He remains the same forever. Not having the means to support yourself for three years is not something that is easy to deal with, but I have seen God’s faithfulness and his love through my circumstances. No matter what I have done, or where I have been, or whether or not I get frustrated because my prayers have not been answered in the way I would like them to be answered, God is still God. He still loves me greatly. He is still right here beside me each and every day. He still holds my hand and guides me as I walk through this day and through the next and the next. The same is true for you. If you are feeling overwhelmed, or frustrated, or just plain worn out, take some time to rest in Him. There is such great peace in knowing that He has you in the palm of his hand and that He is in control. Each of us will walk through difficult times in our lives, but God is faithful and will be with us each and every day, each and every step of the way. “Oh God, you are my God and I will ever praise you. Oh God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you. I will seek you in the morning and I will learn to walk in your ways. Step by Step you’ll lead me, and I will follow you all of my days.”