Deep Calls to Deep

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God... Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” -Psalm‬ ‭42:5, 7‬ ‭‬‬

Deep calls to deep. Sometimes the waves of grief are so steep and crash hard, sometimes it's constant and sometimes it hits when we least expect it. But the Lord is with us in the depths and the heights. "Yet, his tender invitation is always there, a quiet whisper in that background of the hustle and noise, assuring us there is depth in all the places where we feel shallow. Deep calls to deep... Our depths cry out to him. We hesitate, fearing we need to clean up our lives before we are brilliant enough to enter into the splendor of the Almighty King... But when deep calls to deep, He isn't asking us to strive or find comfort in his strength only when we are whole. He's asking us to come as we are and bring everything we are in this moment, to draw peace from his deep gaze and find love in His never-ending well of love... His depth is in every moment. All we need to do is still our hearts one brief moment to feel Him and draw close to him. And as deep calls to deep and we call back, just as we are, we know all is well, for in His depth, we are home." -excerpt by Kylie Howell

The waves of grief hit me the other night, it was surely unexpected, but it hit me with weight that led me to collapse in tears. But in that, Jesus lifts our burdens and makes them light. There is healing in processing, in tears, in surrendering to Jesus. How fitting I was that I read a chapter from "You Are Free" this week all about being free to grieve. Open your heart to the Lord and don't be afraid to cry out. Let me know if you need prayer and I'd be happy to help lift up your burdens.

"Every time we express grief, we allow Jesus to absorb our pain. When we live out the freedom we have been given to grieve, Jesus takes our grief upon himself and replaces it with comfort. What a precious gift" -by Rebekah Lyons from "You Are Free"

Will You Let Him In?

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‭‭ -Revelation‬ ‭3:20-22‬ ‭

“Having the reality of God’s presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on our determination to keep the Lord before us continually. Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence. The experience the psalmist speaks of—“We will not fear, even though . . .” (Psalm 46:2)—will be ours once we are grounded on the truth of the reality of God’s presence, not just a simple awareness of it, but an understanding of the reality of it. Then we will exclaim, “He has been here all the time!” At critical moments in our lives it is necessary to ask God for guidance, but it should be unnecessary to be constantly saying, “Oh, Lord, direct me in this, and in that.” Of course He will, and in fact, He is doing it already! If our everyday decisions are not according to His will, He will press through them, bringing restraint to our spirit. Then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.” -Excerpt From: Chambers, Oswald. “My Utmost for His Highest.” 

I had a moment today where I was really needing some truth and decided to pull up this devotion for today. I had no idea what today’s reading would look like, but this was so what my heart needed. There is so much goodness and truth in this, in experiencing the reality of God’s presence not just a thought or awareness of it. Keeping the Lord continually before us in the reality of His presence, right here, right now. To know that we don’t have to ask Him to guide us, but to know He is already there in our midst, working His will and plans, plans formed long ago in perfect faithfulness. And if there are things that are in opposition to His will? He will make it clear through the Spirit’s prompting, for He alone is the one that opens and closes doors before us, showing us the way to go. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, will we pay attention to see and hear, to be quiet and wait, wait for the direction of His presence? And in that Jesus demands a response, He knocks but we must listen, hear and respond, open the door and let Him come on in so that we might enjoy the presence and sweet fellowship with our Lord & Savior that so graciously loves us. His presence is a true reality, continually with us, continually knocking on the doors of our hearts, He has been there all along. Will you let Him in?