Mighty Warriors

I am going back to school tomorrow. Yesterday was kind of an emotional day for me. It was my last Sunday at Crossroads for awhile. I love my church, and I always miss it. I got all upset last night about always having to be the adult wherever I go--sometimes I even feel like that in my own house. That gets real old, real fast. I know that leadership is lonely, but I sure am afraid of being lonely and feeling like no one understands. So, I cried for the first time in awhile about it all. I didn't want to go back to school, but I didn't want to stay. I was just homesick. I think that is a good thing--to hurt because things are not what they ought to be, more so, to hurt because I am not what I ought to be. It's humbling, and it reminds me to keep my eyes on the goal, Jesus.

I prayed that God would bring me encouragement this semester. But He decided not to wait and brought it straight to me last night right after that. Amazing God. Absolutely amazing. He knows what we need before we even ask. Jesus, thank You for always being so good to me!

And this morning as I sat down at the kitchen table to spend some intimate time with Him, He was faithful, as always, to meet me there. I was reading in 2 Samuel 21:15-22 & 23:8-38. In the first verse, we see the unwelcomed site of an old enemy, the Philistines. At this point in David's life, if it wasn't one thing, it was another. I can relate. How discouraging!! He had just obeyed a tough command from God, and 2 Samuel 21:14 says, "...And after that God responded to the plea for the land." It looked like things were starting to smooth out for David after all kinds of craziness including his own son trying to kill him! But then some HUGE guys come stomping along--I mean giants--with huge spears and one even with 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot. Verse 15 says, "And David grew weary." No joke. I bet David was already weary. His life seemed to be a run from one giant to the next. He was always spared, but those he loved were not so lucky. And sometimes he wanted to die as he grieved the loss of his best friend and son (2 Samuel 18:33). What a rollercoaster David experienced!

So, David was weary. But look what happens--his men come out and beat the mess out of these guys. Is that not like God to provide?! Just at David's wit end we see that time and time again. And I know the same is true in my life. The last 2 years have been a rollercoaster for me, and every time I thought the ride was over there was another drop. But there was never a time that God's hand was not on me. There was never a time that God rejected me when I came running to Him. There was never a lonely night that God did not hold me. And there was never a time that God did not do the miraculous to provide for me, His daughter. No, He didn't always smooth the ride. However, He has been on board with me holding me tight and letting me know that His ways are perfect.

Like David, I saw some mighty warriors of God come out of nowhere to beat down some unwelcomed guests in my life. And God taught me to treasure the body of Christ. He showed me the beauty of the way He designed His family to work. And He provided the encouragement and support I needed at just the right times, and ultimately I was drawn to Him like never before. He taught me to "in humility count others more significant" than myself (Philippians 2:3). He taught me 1 Corinthians 12:21--to not say to the hand, "I have no need of you," or to the foot, "I have no need of you." Because we were created to live in community. And I treasure the way that God has provided incredible friendships in my life to humble me and get me off of my pedestal and teach me I can't do this journey alone.

What an awesome God we serve!