Lord, I Need You

      Do you ever just worry about everything you can possibly imagine? Of course you do, who doesn’t? Well I was having one of those weird days today. One of those days where instead of looking at what’s right in front of me, I was trying to look so far into the future that it absolutely terrified me. I found myself just in this “funk.” What will happen to me when I’m older? With the way politics are going and policies are changing, how will I even survive in this world? How can I do all of the things that God calls me to do in a world in which God doesn’t even seem to matter? All of these questions just entered my head and once they were there, they sunk in and wouldn’t leave.

I think uncertainty, fear, and worry all hit us hardest when we are furthest from the truth.

The truth says:

“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

 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

     When I look at what the creator of every single thing, every being and principality, every atom and molecule, has to say about my future, everything else grows strangely dim. But in order for that to happen I need to turn from the world and the worries it brings, and listen to what God says.

      I don’t have a solution to government policies and healthcare decisions, I don’t know what the retirement plan will look like when I’m 67, but I also don’t even know if I’ll live that long. To be completely honest, when we look at eternity and our own mortality, these “pressing issues” seem to not be so pressing. But when I look at my life right now and what I do know, I know that I am promised that God will fight for me. In this moment, I don’t know anything else except for the fact that I desperately need God to direct my life and remind me of His truth.

      So this is what God is reminding me of, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-20

      These struggles are momentary. Everything that I know will pass away and fade, but God will remain. Today, as I wrestled with the idea of turning my eyes towards heaven, this song kept replaying in my mind over and over. It wasn’t until I stopped long enough to hear God’s voice that I realized what he was trying to tell me.

"Lord, I Need You"

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

 

     The following passage sums up how I felt God communicated this truth to me today. Not by ripping everything out from underneath me and making me learn to trust him the hard way, but by gently whispering his promises.

       The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13