All of you is more than enough for all of me.
The preacher asked the question Sunday.
Are you closer to God today than you were on the first Sunday of January last year?
I wanted to shout yes, nod my head or something…but am I? Am I closer to God? Do I pray more today than last year? Have I studied more? Am I sinning less? How exactly do you answer this question and why do I NOT have an answer?
We are four days into the new year and the question keeps haunting me or maybe it’s my lack of answer to the question. I can’t seem to put my finger on an event or time in 2016 where I had some experience that changed me. Because let me tell you…2016 was an entire year of change.
Every corner I turned brought something new…changed the way I lived…moved me to a new place. Some say a year goes by fast but not really. The happenings in the span of 365 days can leave a person feeling dizzy and disoriented…like a child spinning blindfolded and released to pin the tail on a donkey. And there are parts I’m still not laughing about because the hurt involved has not completely gone away.
Change is a funny thing. Even when the change is good there’s a bit of grief. A time of sorrow over life not being the same. The question still haunts as I read the words of Isaiah.
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18507A" data-link="(A)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> you, Jacob,
he who formed<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18507B" data-link="(B)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> you, Israel:<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18507C" data-link="(C)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18507D" data-link="(D)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> you;
I have summoned you by name;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18507E" data-link="(E)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> you are mine.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18507F" data-link="(F)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>
When you pass through the waters,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18508G" data-link="(G)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>
I will be with you;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18508H" data-link="(H)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18508I" data-link="(I)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18508J" data-link="(J)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>
For I am the Lord your God,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18509K" data-link="(K)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”>
the Holy One<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18509L" data-link="(L)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> of Israel, your Savior;
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Sometimes holding on…refusing to quit…is enough. Enough to say yes to the preacher’s question haunting your thoughts. Yes! I’m closer to God. Yes! I still have issues and trials and dry spells. Yes! He made a way through it all.
He. Made. A. Way.