Testimony Tuesday #6

Today my friend @laurenself shares an encouraging word of how God uses hard times in our lives to help us grow! Lauren's love for Christ shines brightly for all to see! I hope you enjoy her devotional!

I would first like to thank Summer for asking me to write something for her blog. I count it such an honor and couldn’t agree more with encouraging one another with our stories.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” (Jeremiah 17:7)

As we near Christmas and the end of the year, I’m sure we can all agree what a year this has truly been. For most of the year we’ve been striving to find ways to keep fellowship and connection in a time of social distancing, masks, and isolation. For my family we have lost two loved ones within four months - an uncle and a grandfather. It’s been one of the hardest times I’ve seen my family face. Yet as the song goes, through it all I’m learning to trust Him.

During this year of 2020 and all that it has held, the Lord dealt with me at the beginning of the year to teach my teen Sunday school class on growing - whether that be in grace, growing through healing and forgiveness, and growing in the truth of His word - and during this time I also planted some flowers. I would print out the process of my own plant, and compare it to us spiritually.

“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

(Jeremiah 17:8)

We probably wouldn’t consider “growing” especially during a time or season of suffering or waiting on God - but I’ve found that the roots grow deep in these times. I was reminded of the Psalm David wrote in chapter 46 while thinking of this devotion.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of our God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” (Verses 1-5)

God is in the midst of 2020. God is in the midst of loss. God is in the midst of waiting. God is in the midst of suffering. God is in the midst and God is a present help.

A tree truly grows when it’s rooted securely, and also finding nourishment from a source of water. Surely the child of God finds security in the foundation of the person Jesus Christ and His word. And surely we can find nourishment in the healing rivers of His love and goodness.

With all this year has held for each of us, God hasn’t missed a beat in the moments of our lives. We are inseparable from His love (Romans 8:38).

If you’ve found yourself in similar places this year, look to Jesus. Plant yourself in His Word. Allow God to grow your roots. Trust in Him. God is in the midst, and He has promised to never leave.

Blessings this Christmas season and always,

Lauren