Shine

Hmmmm. To quote one of those tel-evangelists - The Lord spoke a word to me!

Okay, okay, all humor aside, God really was working in me yesterday. I have written and spoke so much lately about persevering through the hard times. About the trials of the Christian walk. And friend, there ARE those trials. I am not going to sit here and tell you that once you make a decision to follow Christ, life will be a breeze. I'd be lying and you would be ill-prepared for the storms.

But yesterday, I just so keenly felt God say to me, "Okay, Nicki but what about my joy?"

And in typical Nicki-fashion, I dismissed Him. "Yes, Lord, I know, there will be joy in the morning. When this age, this earth passes away, there will be indescribable joy."

But, persistent as He can be, He insisted, "What about my joy today?"

Oh.

God is laughter. God is love. God is justice and faithfulness. And He is all of those things now. He won't be those things someday. He is and always has been and always will be.

But see, there are some issues in my life right now. I am walking through a painful valley. I am trying hard to lean on the Spirit and take my leading from Him alone but life is so noisy! And I think what I've done, is focus so hard on my circumstance - one circumstance in this whole blessed life God has given me - that I have stopped seeing anything around me that doesn't pertain to this circumstance. So what did I miss while my focus has been so off-center?

I missed the tinkling sound of bells that is my children's laughter. (But I definitely noticed when they were fighting.)

I missed the smile of a stranger who wanted to encourage. (But I definitely was aware when a stranger cut me off at an intersection.)

I missed the stability and security of a husband's faithful love. (But I sure noticed when he didn't clean up the kitchen the way I would've liked.)

I missed how someone wanted to reach out. (But I filed away all the times I've been let down.)

I missed the sunshine, beautiful breeze and cloudless sky. (But I had no problem pointing out the rain.)

Whew! It is amazing to me, how when we start down a path, with our cloak of depression over our shoulders, we can become jaded and wary about everything around us. We "lean" on God through 'these hard times' but don't trust Him to bring a little light on in!

And God is saying to us, "Child, I want you to shine!"

God has an amazing sense of humor. He is a great artist. He not only sheds a tear for our hurts, He rejoices with us when we rejoice! God is a good God!
He does not want us to stand morosely, looking down the road for a day when we are delivered from this world (though as His children, we do yearn for the day He brings us into His perfect presence and kingdom). He wants us to shine His light in this darkness while we are called to be here. To give someone a piece of His joy, to be His hands and feet.

Yea, there are gonna be trials. Nope, life is not a breeze (and whoever said it was, oughta be smacked!) Oh, but God wants us to experience joy. The joy of a loyal friend. Shared laughter with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The feel of a newborn baby cradled in our arms. The giggle of a child. The coming to know the Lord of a young (or old) person. Baby animals. Whatever it is that gives you pure and blameless joy? THAT IS GOD'S GIFT TO YOU.

So take it...and shine.