This new season of life for all of us has brought an array of emotions. Some of us have been anxious with the unknowns of how long this quarantine will last. Some are frustrated at losing their senior year of high school or college. Some don’t know how to manage working from home and doing all the other tasks that include caring for an elderly loved one or teaching their children. There are job losses. Friends and family getting sick. This list is not exhaustive, but there is so much going on in our world right now.
I was doing my devotional from “New Morning Mercies” by Paul David Tripp and I was reminded that despite all that is surrounding us, we must remain steadfast in how awesome God is. He is still our Sovereign King who loves us and is worthy of our praise. Tripp writes, “Awe of God was to be the principal motivation for everything we would ever do.” Is that our motivation? If we were designed for this why don’t we always feel it? Is it possible that we have become so used to God’s grandeur that moments like a full moon or the waves at sea don’t give us that sense of awe anymore? We recognize the beauty but how can we draw closer to Christ and want to worship Him for how incredible He is?
1.) Ask God to reveal Himself to you. Last week, after I read that chapter in my devotional, I was convicted that I am not in awe of Christ enough. I prayed out loud, “Lord, reveal how awesome you are to me.” I had no idea how He would show up. I thought maybe I would see an unusual bird or a rainbow would take my breath away. Instead, that same day, I had a friend that lives in Colorado text me and ask me if my three foster children needed sneakers. I said yes, and that I had three pairs in my Amazon cart. She told me she dreamed that God wanted her to give me money for sneakers in the exact amount that was in my cart. How amazing is that? God still works through dreams and other people in our lives. As you can imagine, I was so blessed by my friend and that God would have the power to speak that way. I believe He shows up when we ask Him to. He will do that for you as well, whether it be in big or small ways.
2.) Spend time in the Word seeing how great our God is. The Willowdale Women’s teaching team has reminded me time and again that the Bible is not meant to be an answer to all our problems. It is first and foremost a story about the redemptive work of God and how marvelous He is. It is how we learn about Him and grow to love Him deeper. I believe it does comfort us, give us wisdom and convict us of sin. However, primarily each page is to draw us to His majesty.
In John 11:40, Jesus speaks to Martha and says:
“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
David, in Psalm 34, encourages us by saying:
“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”
3.) Praise Him as much as you can throughout the day. I was encouraged to start the practice of praising God as much as I could each day, setting aside different times throughout the day to thank God for who He is. It brings Him the glory He deserves, and I find it uplifting to my soul. If you are not sure what to praise Him for, pull out the Psalms and look for the words describing His character. You will find descriptors like: Refuge, Strength, Powerful, Love. Praise Him for who He is. You will find that there is so much to give Him glory for.
This season is not an easy one for us to navigate. I hope you are able to stay connected in community with a church. If you are not currently connected, reach out to Willowdale Chapel and the staff will find a way for you to meet virtually or talk to someone.
I’ve started the practice of listing ten blessings that are currently in my life every time I am frustrated about this difficult time. This enables me to see how awesome He still is in the midst of uncertainty. Ask Him to show Himself to you. I never expected how He would do that for me, but as always, Christ never lets us down. His redeeming work on the cross proves that to us every day. May you find yourself blown away in His glory today as you walk your journey with Him.
ABOUT THE BLOGGER
Susan has been in education for almost 20 years supporting children with disabilities and their families and currently works for the Delaware Department of Education. Susan and her husband, Jeremy, love exploring Chester County with their two older biological daughters and three foster children. People are her passion.