The Plumbline

There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:3-4) Guess what - - - if you are living and breathing on this earth, God isn't finished with you yet! Continue on as he directs your course - there is much more waiting for you to both learn and see completed in your life and in the lives of those you will touch each day. Troubles might attempt to weigh us down, but troubles are his specialty! We don't need to give into their 'emotional weight' - he has already born that 'weight' at the cross and prepared the specific answer...

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. (Lamentations 3:22-24 MSG) Do you ever feel like you have nothing or no one left? We can all get to the end of our day, a particularly challenging season in our lives, or some moment of panic and drama, feeling like we have no one else with us as it all comes to an end. What we must never forget is that Jesus is still with us - he hasn't abandoned us. In fact, he brings new levels of his mercy and kindness just when we need it most. His love never runs out, even when ours falters a bit more than we'd like. His loyalty toward us isn't lessened just because our loyalty to follow him in full obedience and trust has faltered. His mercy draws us back in - his love embraces us even when we think ourselves unlovable or unworthy of his care. Faithfulness on our part ...