Full Circle

"I think you've come full circle, Melissa."

This is what one of my dearest, truest friends said to me this morning. She was referring to a tough time in my life, a time that I really didn't think I'd recover from. She walked through the storm with me, along with several other close friends and God, of course. And now, the clouds are gone and we are basking in the SON together. The storms seem to have passed. The me I thought I had lost is reemerging. I've learned so much. I'm so thankful for the last year. I'm so thankful for the loss of my eyesight that caused me to see life so much more clearly. I'm so thankful for the loss of my safety net that truly bound me and kept me from experiencing life to the fullest. I'm so thankful for miscommunication that caused me to reevaluate how I deal with people in my life and how I prioritize...always putting God first. I couldn't be filled with more gratitude...God has allowed me to be fully aware of who and what is important in life. God allowed me to fall broken at His feet...and now He alone is building me up in Him.

In my bible study (Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place) last week, Beth Moore talked about how God sometimes allows us to walk through a storm, through the fire, if you will. He does this in order to refine us, and to fulfill His purpose for our lives. She pointed out that even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked for God to take the cup from Him. He asked that if it be the will of His Father, that He not have to go through the pain and agony that would befall Him. He asked, His father refused. Well, my first reaction is...THAT'S JUST MEAN! If God loves me like He says He does, then why wouldn't He offer me every protection. He must love others more than He loves me. He must only be true to others.

Then the Truth comes through, loud and clear. God loves us enough to know when His intervention would cause us more harm than good. He knows what our purpose is on this planet. He knows what we need to learn in order to fulfill that purpose. He knows what has to happen in order for our piece of the puzzle to fit perfectly. He knew when He created Jesus that He would be crucified. He knew He would suffer and die. It was all part of the plan. It broke His mighty heart that it had to happen that way. Jesus was, after all, His Son. It hurt. However, He loved me enough to let Jesus suffer and die, in order to give me eternal salvation. It was the way it had to be.

God could save us from every heartache. He is big enough. However, He loved me enough to allow me to walk through the last year. He knew that every thing I experienced would ultimately draw me closer to Him. He knew that I would bring Him glory when I came around full circle. He walked every step of it with me. He was there to dust me off when I stumbled. He never once left me and sometimes I know that He carried me. He knew I'd be better off in the end. He knew what I would learn. He loves me enough to painfully watch my pain, but to stand back and let it happen. As a parent, I can relate fully. There are times I have to stand back and let my children fall in order for them to learn.

God is looking at the end game. He is looking at us through eternal eyes. He wants me, you, us...He wants us with Him for eternity. He will do anything or nothing, in order to get us to that place. God is merciful and full of grace. It hurts Him to watch us suffer. He always offers an escape from the poor choices we make. He will never turn His back on us. And when we come full circle and we turn our gaze on Him...well, no moment was ever sweeter.

I'm so thankful that He loves me so much.

If you are going through a tough time right now. Be patient, put your heart in His hands and let Him carry you. He has a plan, and He's never wrong.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Many Blessings,
Melissa