Storms

I just found out about the tsunami that has devastated Japan, Hawaii and possibly other places as well. My heart is breaking for these people. The little children, now orphans. The parents who are now childless. The unbelievers.

I have never, nor will ever, claim to understand God. He revealed parts of Himself to me and completely turned my world, my heart, and faith upside down....for the better. I fully trust Him because He will never let me fall.

That doesn't mean everything in my life will always be perfect. In fact, Jesus promises His children that there will be troubles and Christians will be persecuted. (John 16:33). If anyone tells you to follow Jesus and suddenly your life will be picture perfect, RUN. Because that is a lie straight from the pit of hell.

I was recently at a college ministry where the speaker likened this to marriage. Marriage is full of ups and downs. You WILL fight, and WILL get mad at each other. But you marry that person, fully knowing all of this because that person is better. They are worth all fights, sleepless nights and heartache. They are worth fighting for and worth loving. So is Jesus. His love is worth all the persecution. His love is better than all the heartaches. His love is BETTER than everything you love now.

God allows painful things to happen in our lives. I am studying to be a teacher and one my professors continually tells us that every activity has to have a purpose. The point of school is to learn, not have the children do busy work like 500 worksheets. Sometimes teachers plan activities that have a purpose, but only the teacher knows what the purpose is.

God is our perfect teacher and He doesn't let anything touch without His consent. Even we won't like everything that He allows in our life, such as really hard stuff, like tsunamis, death and sickness...there is a GOOD purpose in it. If I hadn't of gone through some of things that broke my heart, I wouldn't be as close to God. I wouldn't be exposed to some of His attributes as clearly.

God's word clearly tells us that He has a good plan for us:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

This is one of the most recognizable verses in scripture. But no one ever talks about the verse that comes right before it:

"This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. " - Jeremiah 29:10

God does have a good and perfect plan. But it WILL NOT come without hard things. BUT, "I will bring you home again"

This video is one of my favorite videos of all times. I have watched it so many times I almost have it memorized. Watch and learn more about who God is. You will be blessed!

Huge love and prayers,
Maria