Trusting.

Sometimes I feel like certain songs were written specifically for me.
This is one of them.

"Sometimes all we have to hold on to

Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Lord we know Your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are

You’re still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing your praise

You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing doesn’t come"

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"Time to Say Goodbye". [bittersweet endings]

One week from today is the day I board a plane and say goodbye to one of the best summers of my life!
I will be returning to Michigan to finish my LAST year of college. (Crazy!)
Seasons change so fast.
Sometimes I don't feel quite ready.
Saying goodbye to loved ones and loved places is never easy.
This is one of the times when the "bitter-sweet" ending feels more bitter than usual.
Maybe this is because I have learned so much about Life this summer. (yes, Life, not life.)
Maybe it's because I don't know if I will ever get to spend another summer like this in Santa Cruz.
I really have no idea what is ahead of me.
So much in my life seems really uncertain right now, but since when is anything in this world certain? That's what makes life an adventure, right?

I know that God is so good.
His timing is always perfect.
ALWAYS.
And HE knows the plans for my future even if I don't.

So I'm excited for this year.
I'm excited for what Jesus has for me.
I've learned so much recently about following Him into the valleys and up steep mountains because He knows what lies ahead. It is all worth it. Even if I can't see it all now, I will some day. I can't wait.

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" ~Psalm 27:1

I will follow.



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Pressing on. [joy in the waiting]

Trusting in the unseen isn't always easy.
At times there are moments of impatience, frustration, and disappointment.
Doubts arise, and fear takes hold.
The enemy laughs in our faces as we look for answers.
But if we continually place our hope in the Love of Christ, we will not be disappointed in the end because "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).
That's a promise.

Don't give up.
Press on.
Joy will come.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~2 Corinthians 4:17-18 

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." ~Romans 5:3-5

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called  me heavenward in Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 3:12-14 

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him." ~Psalm 28:7

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