Hope.

For the first time in what feels like an eternity I have a desire to write. I know I wrote this morning, but I did that completely out of duty to my blog.

And I know I posted a blog on August 31st, but again, to be honest, it was the last day of the month and I realized I wouldn't hit the mark of monthly page views I was aiming for unless I wrote, so that morning before class I wrote that blog. It was all true and I stand behind it, but it wasn't really one of those blogs I had a desire to write. But I did end up hitting the views mark because of that! Woohoo

I have been in a very dry season lately. My reading as felt more like a textbook than a love letter. My prayers have felt more like words drifting into nothingness, and my life, it's been dry and colorless.

I was hopeless. I was tired. I was not filled with the joy or peace that surpasses understanding.

Christ does amazing things when we ask. And on top of that He moves amazingly when we are open and ask others to pray for us. When we submit ourselves to the fact that we don't have it all together, and when we are willing to admit that to others it puts our hearts in a spot where Christ can get glory.

I saw my cousin Josh Rech's status about his blog. The tag-line was just HOPE. He told me earlier that day he'd be sending me some hope later in the day. Well, he did just that. He reminded me of a beautiful fact.

When we feel dry, when we are in the desert, that does NOT mean that God isn't doing a work in us. He is still moving and still working, changing, renewing us!

Sometimes He even draws us into that place of dryness to do a work in us. We don't see it, but He is working.

Hosea 2:14-15 "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards. and will make the Valley of Achor (trouble) a door of hope."

Even in our failures, our flaws, our narrow sight, God is working! He is faithful to complete the work that He has started in us. He doesn't ever leave us or abandon us. He is holding me. Even when I don't see or feel it! What an amazing Father I have.

Abba, Father. I love you.

"Though my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

Josh ended his blog with what I will end mine with as well. He said this:

"You are in the process. It's hard. Just praise Him. He's doing an amazing work in you. It's hard to see, but you are just in that first half of this thing. He's producing endurance and character. You will reach hope. You'll see."