Momentum For Monday, April 29th 2024
“You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” (Psalm 32:7)
It has taken much time and many years to learn, but there's a certain aspect of my relationship with God that I've come to rely on and enjoy. When I was younger, if I was going through a struggle or wrestling with sin, it would push away from God. The guilt would drive me to think that there is no way God could like me because of problems I was having, let alone tolerate me. Don't get me wrong, I'd still do the churchy, Christian things, I'd just never place myself before God in complete honesty.
I've realized just how backwards and far from the truth that is. As His child, He wants to walk through the shadows of death with me. It's one of the many reasons of the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us throughout Scripture.
It is quite natural to distance yourself from God in struggles though. Adam did it in the Garden of Eden. David did too when he cheated with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. It's not a new tactic. The human tendency is to sin and distance yourself from God.
I think what has changed for me is that I've learned to trust God. I've also become absolutely convinced of His love for me. How could I not want to go to Him for everything?
Let me clarify, I'm still human. I still struggle. I still battle and want things or do things I shouldn't. I just don't keep that from God anymore. I talk to Him about it all with brutal honesty and ask Him to help me (and He does and it helps).
I wish I knew this as a jacked up young adult. But I'm glad I know it now. God can be trusted and He loves you. And He certainly wants to help. I encourage you, lean on God for it all— the good, the bad, and especially the ugly.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
(Romans 8:38)