A Meaningful Journey – This Side of Heaven in 2015

One year ago this week, I received a phone call that forever changed the trajectory of my life. So much so, my entire year of 2015 is defined by this single event and as a result I am now the legal guardian or as my mother describes guardian angel of my orphaned, twelve-years-my-senior, special needs relative who lives in another state. I am not one of those strong, courageous types who can pour their heart out on a blog whilst walking through a major life crises. Nor was I able to even discuss the heart-wrenching details on my private social media pages much less my public pages!? So I reluctantly chose to silence my blog “A Meaningful Journey” and only after having promised just six months prior to write faithfully… But God called me to a new journey to serve His purpose of which I heeded the call and of which an earthly ending has yet to come.

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In my short months as a Christian blogger, I often teased “Folks, be careful what you pray for!”  Because the minute you start prayin’, God sets answers to motion. I knew this from experience. But never was this more true than when God answered not only one very specific prayer but a whole host of unrelated, ambiguous  prayers with one swoop of a phone call thus pointing me once again in the direction of His faithfulness not to mention my car northward.

I would like to say one year later the entire ordeal is seemingly a nightmare one could only pray to forget but sadly, at my most human times, I’m left shell-shocked and battle worn from the unraveling of devastation that can only come from evil. Until… I am reminded, God heard my cries! God used what was meant for harm for good! And most triumphantly, God reigned victorious! Because when He declared ‘enough was enough’ for all to hear, the battle was already won!

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Eph. 6:12-18

My refuge and my strength, God was with me every step of the way lovingly bringing me into His presence in the scariest and darkest of days; guiding my steps, using me in the lives of my family, teaching me to wait patiently, to trust audaciously! Simple prayers unceremoniously scribbled in a prayer journal months prior but now collective reminders of real-life, battle scarred wounds from the utter destruction of lives by unchecked sin… But MOST omnipotently, a beautiful affirmation of God’s faithfulness to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose .

Complicate my life… Wait!? Did I seriously pray for Him to complicate my life?

Through it all, God beckons me not to hate the sinner but to recognize ‘We are all sinful creatures capable of great evil when left to our own devises.’ Talk about a ‘love challenge’ of biblical proportions!? So I pray for God’s glory to unfold in the ugliness of it all and I trust God in his Word. I relish in the ‘joy’ a forever child of the King can bring to this what-was-to-be empty nester’s life! I praise Him for his goodness and mercies for a sinner like me! But MOST fervently, I hold fast to Him seeking a meaningful journey – this side of heaven!