Being Where We Are

What a journey God has us on. The thoughts, prayers and theology that have gone through my mind, besides all of the events of the past three weeks, has my mind trying to nicely tie everything together in a pretty little package so I can sit down one day and just sort everything out. The God who I didn't realize I had in a nice little box of my own has revealed Himself to be more than I could have ever imagined Him to be. His promises have been more real than they have ever been before and His peace has been beyond anything I could ever imagine. The words that He has whispered in my ears, or shouted from billboards, or spoke through friends and strangers have been a balm to soothe my pain to the point that I wonder if I should be sadder that Trent is in heaven. I am not in denial, I know Trent is gone and I miss him like crazy, but the overwhelming knowledge of God being in control is my constant compass to point me heavenward in everything that tries to take away this joy. Yes, joy. Joy that goes beyond anything this world has to offer and joy deeper than any sorrow. My delight is in the Lord and His plans. He has allowed complete surrender to my own ways in this and has replaced it with peace. Where else do I have to turn but the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth? Just because He is kind to His children He has lead me to several verses that have brought, again, the reassurance that God is good and is definitely in control of all of this. And without a doubt He loves me through out it and in it.

From Isaiah 42

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him...

I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you....

I am the Lord; that is my name!

From Isaiah 48, 49:1-2, and 57:1-2

My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand together. (If we serve a God who could simply form the earth and the heavens by speaking, then we have to believe that this God also ordained the day of the accident perfectly as well, and all for His glory.)

This is what the Lord says~ your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (You have allowed me to pay attention to your commands, Oh Lord, and my peace is like a river!)

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this {declares the Lord}. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.

Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.

The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

Isaiah 59:1

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.