Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

"Turn your eyes toward Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of glory and grace" Helen H. Lemmel

There are some seasons of our lives that are easier than others. Either way Christ is with us.

 About this time last year, I found myself so excited for what God had for me and so deeply in love with Jesus that I found myself confessing, "It doesnt matter what happens, where you take me, or what I have to sacrifice... I will follow you!". Though these words were true, I didnt think that He would actually act upon it.

Fast forward a few months later and He took my confession dead serious as I found myself on a plane Tanzania bound and I would not return until a whole year later...the longest I have ever been away from home, my family, my friends, and my familiar American lifestyle. If I could be honest, I knew and still know that God would provide for me as He already provided the money for the plane ticket, a place to stay, and funds for the trip. But I doubted that He would provide what I needed the most, His presence. This was coming from a place of insecurity after my previous months of not hearing from the Lord the same way I had when I first started walking with Him.

When I got here,  I found that though my intent was to pour out and do ministry, the Lord wanted to slow me down and heal me of my past hurts. And I really wish I could say that every moment of it I was obedient and was continually praising Him.Yeah... not quite. Some moments I was mad and said things in sarcasm and bitterness to Him. Things like "Gee..thanks God...Ya dragged me here and now in this moment of my life where are you now?".  There were other moments where I was exhausted from the day, defeated from the personal healing I had been dealing with, and had little sleep from the night before because of spiritual warfare. Those moments I would just sit down to pray absolutely indifferent and want to give up. I know, really pathetic.

But the amazing thing is God would and continues to redeem every single one of those moments. The moments I doubt Him and if He really called me here, He would bring about a way of confirmation that I am supposed to be here by using me in a powerful way or setting up divine appointments. And He would ALWAYS find ways to encourage me in the day through the gentle whisper of His Spirit to my heart or an encouraging word from someone else that was all to timely and perfect.

Whether God calls me into another season similar to the one I have just walked through or He should call me into a completly unique season, I walk in the fact that He is faithful. I walk not by what it feels like, but by faith. And the reality is it took those times of difficulty as means to creat a foundation to build upon my mountain of testimony upon testimony. It is a way for God to prove what He has promised He will complete in me. He is and always will be my Rock. Unlike any person I have ever known, He will never change.

If you find yourself in a similar season to one I have had, keep pressing in. God is closer than you think, ready to show Himself strong and faithful. What He is drawing out of you is something too glorious and wonderful for words. This too shall pass, but until that time keep your gaze on Jesus.

Melissa