Glorious

"All tough times come to an end."

PEOPLE ARE meant to be enjoyed. Life is full of people. We are one. We should be happy to meet someone else, have time to listen to them, and rejoice in what God is doing in their life. Maybe that sounds too “out of the can” for you. But a while back, oh, several years ago, I decided not to get uptight when people get in my way. I actually look forward to my family being around me, to spending time with them and having conversations, which, if you know me, conversation is not my best thing. I’m a writer, not a “talker”.

I battled with suicide for a number of years, never at the edge of it, but it wouldn’t shut up. Being frank here. It isn’t a thing now, so no need to write me. I had a revelation of that in recent days from the lives of my family. I had two dear relatives go to heaven, and what a precious thing that is. And it hit me, all that time, with that darkness in my ears, I’d asked what many ask who have been there — Why am I living? What is my motivation? I didn’t really have an answer, but God showed it to me. While some wept and others praised God for these whose lives were so well-lived, there was what I’d asked. My motivation is people. I’m here to help people walk toward heaven in peace and quietness and assurance.

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” (Isaiah 32:17)

I’m not well-equipped for some tasks. I think of those who work in medicine and to quote my mother, “No, no, noooo, no-no, no, noooo.” I know some who are so good at nursing and doctoring. It’s such an admirable trait. Just not one I have. I’m not socially-minded. I said this, but it goes to navigating through groups. Churches love to bunch us up together in a small room. Enter the no-song again. There are other things I’m not good at.

But one thing God has blessed me with is a vision of Jesus, is a daily conversation with Jesus. It came out of a difficult time. When darkness got loud, God got louder. He made sure He could be heard, and as I’ve said before, I didn’t recognize Him. He’s so much kinder and funnier and relaxed than the church’s image of Him. Please, please stop picking at each other over silly things like appearances and personal habits. God isn’t looking at any of that. He doesn’t talk to you like Mr. Know-It-All. This is what I expected. But He talks to you like a friend. I don’t know it all, so I’ll ask a question, wondering about things, as we humans do, and He’ll reply in the same way. And I’m looking at Him now, one eyebrow raised, “Don’t you know the answer?” Of course, He does. But that’s the point. He’s so merciful, so gentle.

One thing I’ve learned is … That thing He’s asked you to do, the one that you balked at? You are capable of it. He never asks us to do anything we can’t accomplish. We have to put down our resistance and pick up His grace. See ourselves clothed in righteousness, in His power, His anointing. And stop staring at the past where we goofed up.

Repent of being shorthanded in your thinking, “I can’t. It’s too hard. I hate doing that.” and realize who He is in you. I know, friend, I get it. I’ve had to do this, and my mind is screaming at me how it’s all going to fail. So I encourage myself instead. I keep saying to myself what the Word says about me, who I am now and how God is WITH me and FOR ME and never leaving or forsaking me. This always pushes me over the hump.

All tough times come to an end. God has the ending of that hard place all prepared for you, and no matter what your head says, your heart should know what He’s planned is wonderful and glorious. Ephesians 3:20 says it will be “exceeding abundantly above” all we can ever think up. He’s proved this to me, and I love Him far beyond words.

“Sometimes it will be difficult for you not to do something wrong. Or it will be difficult not to think something wrong. You will have difficulties like this. But they are the same kind of difficulties that every person has. God always does what he has promised to do. Remember this. He will not let any difficulty be too big for you. He does not want you to do anything wrong because of any difficulty. He will make you strong. He will show you a way out of the difficulty. So then you will be able to do what is right.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, EasyEnglish)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com