When you think about God being your stronghold, what would change about the way you handle uncertainty if you genuinely believed, “Even if I don’t know what’s going to happen, I’m safe enough with God to take this one day at a time”?
This question sparks so many responses in me that I don’t know if that’s just a good in-depth self-reflection or a sign that, um, like do I really truly trust and believe God? And have I ever? If I can be so very honest right now, fear has led my life for so long that I really honestly have to scratch my head on that. Because I know God is there, I believe he’s real in my head, but in my heart, in my actions, the math stops adding up. So to answer the question, if I truly allowed God to be my stronghold, what would change…
What uncertainty? Because I know my God, and he always shows up time and time again. But allow the fear to be bigger, stronger in my mind, I allowed it to consume me and forget WHO our Father is! Has anyone else ever had that moment in their life? You know what I love about the Bible? You can find yourself in some of those situations. Maybe it’s a past situation, and God reveals another way that you can handle that situation if you ever find yourself there again! Maybe it’s a current situation, and you need guidance on a way out, and Jesus extends you that same grace, mercy, and forgiveness he gave Peter after he rose from the dead. The one I feel most connected to right now in life is Jonah or Eve a little when she was tempted. Has God ever called you to something, but because you didn’t have all the information, you pushed it aside or chased it half-heartedly because, let’s be real, how many of us really truly side-eye God? Like the snake and the temptations from your old life really be like, “Did God really say.” Uh, looking back, I want to gag because YES, he did say. But, what’s a trip-up but a testimony? What’s salvation without redemption, right? So much of the information that I have is just backlogs of my journey with Christ since I started back in 2018. And just a quick backstory, Christ has always been a part of my life growing up in some way or some form. Through church, and I remember my Aunt would have Bible studies for the kids in the neighborhood at the time growing up. I can never truly hide from God; I have always carried him in my heart, but somehow. I forgot. I remember having a tough time, and I just wanted God to show me he was real, no money, no glossy things, just show me who he was. And, he did! I studied and studied; I’m sure I drove my mother up the wall with questions, but she would always answer. And I loved that. I also love how God also used those moments so that we can rebuild our relationship with a foundation in him. God showed me the power of forgiveness through grace, truth, and forgiveness, and our bond is stronger today because of it. I have seen the transformations that God can have on people’s hearts and lives when they chase him wholeheartedly. I think of my Dad, God rest his soul. But I praise God because, DESPITE the circumstances, I know he gave his life to Christ. I also know that he had a relationship with God, and if anyone challenges my sisters, they can testify, but he quit smoking and drinking in one day when he gave his life to Christ. Let’s be honest, and this scripture has been dancing around my head for days, but he without sin cast the first stone. At what point do we draw a line even for ourselves when enough is enough? So many of us are backsliders and be the first to judge. I’ll be the first to raise my hand; been there, done that. But once we’re saved, we don’t have to constantly be saved, but we should constantly forgive and ask for forgiveness. But I have gotten so off track and topic. But I had to share that snippet. Because God revealed himself in those moments, working everything for his good still, despite the circumstances, despite the naysayers, despite all things that I saw as just negative, they were all moments God used for our good. And that brings me to Jonah in the belly of the whale. After three days, Jonah remembered God and prayed to him, and his circumstances were changed because of it. Although he created the situation by being disobedient and trying to run from God, God still gave him shelter in the form of a fish. Was it ideal? No, but it kept him away from harm until it was time. Let’s not forget, he jumped into a storming ocean. And even as his life was slipping away from him, he was calling on God, and God was saving him at the same time. So much of this is Jesus; I can’t unsee it. Just as Jesus’s life was leaving him, he thought of God quick enough to ask him to forgive us for we know what we do. How many of you have been there before in just your own journey? Just God, I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it just feels right. And that’s where I am right now in life. After fighting, running for the first time, I truly broke down because I am tired of running, tired of fighting, and I surrender to God. Everything is his to figure out, to manage, to guide. I’m only here to nurture the gift he gave me that I ran from for so long because I was afraid that if I used my voice, if I used my words, they would be too loud or not loud enough, so I hid. But as all things amazing, it takes time. Think diamonds and how long it takes for them to form. But this is my coming-out story. And although my blog is small, I know God will deliver the people that it’s meant for to it. Now as I settle down, please feel free to share your story about God becoming your stronghold. I would love to hear it. And God bless. Thank you for reading until the end.
