Curveballs

Sometimes life throws you curveballs. And sometimes you don't expect what's going to happen. And sometimes those curveballs make you angry or sad or depressed or frustrated.

And sometimes (okay all the time) what God calls us to do is not to get angry and sad and depressed and frustrated, rather to be thankful. And trust Him. And talk to Him about it.

Philippians 4:6
Don't worry about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

You see, God knows what He's doing. And sometimes, these curveballs are really just the Lord being gracious and teaching us...and when we surrender to Him, He gives us peace that we desperately, desperately, desperately need.

Because He's good like that.

Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.

P.S. That's us.

Thirsty

When I think vocabulary that could describe my current state of being, two words come to mind: thirsty and desperate. Not exactly the two words that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But, in all honesty, I feel like my soul is in a state of deep desperation and longing that I can't really describe. It's kind of like how you feel after a really long run on a super hot day when you forgot your water bottle. The only thing you can think about is getting a hold of some water and chugging it. It's like there's this deep, intense thirst inside of me that I'm desperate to quench.
Isaiah 41:17 says "The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst." I don't know of any other way to describe my heart but like that. It's a pretty pathetic feeling, but I think it's a good place to be. Especially when you read further. "I, the Lord, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, do not forsake them. I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and dry land into springs of water."
Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled." and John 6:35, "I am the bread of life," Jesus told them, "No one who comes to me will ever be hungry and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again." Jesus wasn't saying that we'd never experience hunger pains or the feeling of thirst, rather that we would be filled. That we'd never be in a place where we would be unable to satisfy our spiritual hunger or thirst because we can always turn to Him and He will fill us anew.
Psalm 34:8 says "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Have you ever noticed how much better food tastes when you're really really really hungry? Or how you may hate water when you're full, but when you're really thirsty it's the most amazing thing in the world? God is inviting us to come with our hunger and thirst and desperation. He's inviting us to drink from His waters that we may live.
The cool thing about hunger and thirst is that they're indicators that our bodies are working properly. If we didn't ever get hungry or thirsty, we'd have no way of knowing that we need nutrition and fuel. It's the same with our spirits. When we find ourselves empty and burnt out or just plain hungry for something new and refreshing, it's our spirits indicating that they need to be fed.
So, I guess thirsty and desperate...that's an okay place to be. It's okay because it brings me to back to Jesus and the foot of the cross. Not to mention, God is known for meeting those in desperation. And the greater my thirst, the more appealing is His invitation. He promised to provide water for the thirsty and, friends, I am thirsty. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to "taste and see" just how good He really is. I have a feeling I won't be disappointed.