God says "Yes"

We pray. 

We wait on God.

We hope.

We cling to His Word like a child's hands firmly grasped on the harness while riding a roller coaster.

It hurts and all the evidence points to the inevitable. 

The worst has happened.

The last breathe was taken.

We grieve and mourn and wish for different results. 

I often tell the LORD, "I trust you even though I don't like this. I don't get this. But where else can I go?"

The ceiling has fallen. 

The world appears to halt.

This was not supposed to happen, but it happened.

A divorce. A cancer journey. A child with disabilities. An unfaithful spouse. A pink slip and the words "We have to let you go" A car accident. A child who had so much promise runs away from Jesus.

COVID has reminded us of the brevity of life. 

I confess, it hurts when God says no.

I have begged God for a miracle. 

I watched the sweet movie "Encanto" today. She was not given a gift. Everyone in her family was special. But the main character did not receive a gift. She smiled even though her heart was sad, envious and a little weary. Everyone else got a gift, but she did not receive hers. 

I get this. 

In Encanto, she sings. "I am waiting on a miracle."

So many miracles were performed when Jesus walked the earth.

He healed the blind, lame, those with leprosy, the woman with the issue of blood, he raised the dead, he multiplied food, he healed the demon possessed, He calmed the sea. He is indeed God. Jesus is God.

I often wrestle with when God says "no" to my prayers. 

I hope you wrestle too. Wrestling makes us human and we can't wrestle with someone we don't believe in. 

Faith can be painful because what we want so bad is not happening. It may never happen...We don't always hear "yes" to our prayers and that stings. 

He is a Good Good Father, even when the circumstance is anything but good.

I have reflected quite a bit on the idea of when God says "no."

I don't want to camp there....

I want to reflect on when God says "yes."

God says Yes to grace.

God says Yes to salvation as a free gift.

God says Yes to a reunion with our loved ones who have gone home first. 

God says Yes to beautiful lasting memories.

God says Yes to mercy.

God says Yes to new mercies every morning.

God says Yes to illumination of His Word.

God says Yes to sunrises- made just for you.

God says Yes to starlit skies- again, designed just for you....

God says Yes to kindergarten kisses by small innocent lips. 

God says Yes to taking care of you from your youth to your old age. 

God says Yes to living an abundant life with His Spirit guiding you.

God says Yes to listening to your broken record prayers.

God says Yes to bind up fresh wounds.

God says Yes to healing your old scars.

God says Yes to making new wine out of you.

God says Yes to working all things together for His good...

He says Yes.

It's like we are asking Him to marry us...

We wait with eager anticipation...

He loves me? He loves me not.

Jesus says "Yes! I will be your bridegroom. I would go to the Cross all over again. You are worth it. I say Yes" 

Jesus says yes to our salvation, to grace and to eternity with Him. 

We must trust Him...