He never lets go.

I had a revelation this morning. As I was doing my quiet time and reading in a book, I read this - based on Luke 7:23-30.

The original word for "blessed" is makarios. Revel in this definition of the term: "Biblically, one is pronounced blessed when God is present and involved in his/her life. The Hand of God is at work directing all his/her affairs for a divine purpose, and thus, in a sense, such a person lives coram Deo, before the face of God. Luke 7:23 tells us these words apply to the person who doesn't fall away on account of Christ.

What does "falling away" mean? The Greek word, skandalon, means "a cause of stumbling". Add the meanings of these two definitions and we arrive at the following sum total in Luke 7:23: "The Hand of God is at work directing divine purpose, or blessing, in all the affairs of the one who doesn't let the perceived activity or inactivity of Christ trap him or make him stumble."


So why did this speak to me? Because of happenings of the past year I have allowed my spirit to be crushed, to the point of death at times. I may have used bad judgement at times, but I never lied, and I never did or said anything that I regret, other than the way it was received. So why was I feeling so defeated, so crushed? Because I couldn't see God's hand in it. I didn't understand why He allowed it to happen. On all levels. Why He allowed close friendships, relationships, and bonds to be broken down. And others built up.

Reading the above gave me hope. It stirred some life in me. I AM BLESSED. God IS involved in my life. He has never left me nor forsaken me. His Hand has always been upon me. He never let go of me.

I allowed others to put me down, to tell me I was a phony, to take situations and make themselves look good. What I said happen, did happen. Maybe I shouldn't have told it. I thought it was funny. Unfortunately, others were embarrassed, or offended. Maybe I shouldn't have said some things, though true. I usually just 'take it' - and this time I spoke up. And because I did, the pedestal I had people on broke as I watched the relationship break down. I still sit and wonder where all the venom came from. Doesn't mean I won't make mistakes or that other people will miscontrue my words or heart. Doesn't mean judgement won't be made. Doesn't mean I won't misunderstand comments. It only means I am human, just like others in my world. Life happens. It's how I deal with what happens to me. Will I choose to laugh, or blame. I want to laugh.

"The Hand of God is at work directing divine purpose, or blessing, in all the affairs of the one who doesn't let the perceived activity or inactivity of Christ trap him or make him stumble." Although my walk with God didn't cause me to stumble, I wondered where He was in all of my life. He seemed to have stepped back, and I couldn't find Him. But I consistently sought His face and His hand as I have for years. I poured out my sorrow and grief, my pain of loss, my despair. I now realize that He never left me, He was still at work directing my life, my affairs. Perhaps it was a test to see if I would stumble. If I truly believe what I say I believe. I don't have to be all bubbly all the time and pretend that life is wonderful. I don't have to seek other people's opinions of my life or my walk. I only answer to Him. I am who I am because I am made in God's image. His Word says so, and His Word tells me how I am to live. And God doesn't make junk. He may not be finished with me yet, but I know on Whom my hope is built, that He will never leave me, never forsake me.

I'm grabbing hold of His hand, and I'm hanging on for the journey. It's the first day of the rest of my life. I want to make it count.

"People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone." - Audrey Hepburn

Blessings!