Last year, I watched these Texas yucca plants evolve from a firm, pink bud… to a glorious cream-colored bloom… to dry, withered stems.  In just a matter of weeks, too. 

They reminded me of the verse from Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

We are born, we live, and we die.  Our life here on earth is temporary, but our home with Christ is eternal.  It endures forever.  

In the midst of our stressful trials, fears, illnesses… and even in times of death… I pray God gives us the strength to focus on Him, His faithfulness, and His love.  To focus on the eternal.  To focus on Christ, our Living Hope.

“Neither death nor life, […] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38-39)

“Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  (2 Cor. 4:16-18)

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’  So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.'”  (Hebrews 13:5)

Even If…

The song, Even If by Mercy Me, has been playing over and over again in my mind, ever since I learned last week that a dear friend is going through a very difficult health struggle. 

My heart aches for my friend and his precious family.  I’ve poured out many tears and prayers.  Every day, I have prayed for a miracle of physical healing, and I have also prayed for God’s will to be done, whatever that may be.  Because God’s will— His loving, faithful promises to us— are miracles in and of themselves. 

Here is an excerpt of the lyrics of Even If, and I invite you to listen to the song after you finish reading.

But God, when You choose to leave mountains unmovable,

Oh give me the strength to be able to sing, “It is well with my soul.”

I know You’re able and I know You can save through the fire with Your mighty hand.

But even if You don’t, my hope is You alone.

You’ve been faithful, You’ve been good all of my days.

Jesus, I will cling to You, come what may

‘Cause I know You’re able. I know You can.

Whatever trial you’re going through.  Whatever mountain is in your way. I pray you feel God near and know that He is faithful and good, all of our days.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

My hope is in God, even if….  I will sing His praises, even if….  The “even if” part is still hard.  It can still be heartbreaking.  But in the midst of our deepest sorrows and struggles, that is when we need to cling to God all the more… because He is our HOPE, and He is the JOY that comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

I choose to place my trust in God… even if.  Because even if He doesn’t move the mountains in our lives, He will still take us to the other side.  We will see the beautiful horizon again, whether it’s here on earth in our lifetime, or in heaven for all eternity.  Because He is faithful.

Amy 

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