Like anyone in the world, there are people and things that supply me with comfort and strip all fear, worry, and pain away. These people, or things, are constant in my life…they’re always here when I need them. However, if God has taught me one important thing this past school year it has been when comfort “things” are stripped away, our faith and his character are the ONLY things in this world that can comfort us.
These past few days have been different. I ended finals on Tuesday and arrived at my uncle’s house on Wednesday night. I leave tomorrow for Ocean City to prepare for the students who will arrive in a little over a week. Usually at the end of every year my mom flies down and helps me pack up. However, this year she was not able to make it and I am on my own.
Being alone is one of my biggest fears in life. I LOVE being around others. So much so that if I’m alone in my apartment for more than an hour, I start to worry and become lonely. This week, God has been my comfort and peace. He has supplied me with all I have needed to make it through these few days without my mom, without the normal end of the year routine of going back to New Hampshire, without Matt, without friends, my cat, etc.
I have been reading 1 Corinthians and I just love this book because it addresses so many issues about my faith! It is wild. I love the idea that Christ is the only perfect love that exists. All love fails when compared to Christ’s love. As a woman, it is so easy to get distracted by your relationship with a man you think has it all, when in reality, he fails just like ANY OTHER PERSON. I so often want to cling to Matt for my security, my help, my comfort, my love, etc. but I know that Christ is the only one who can quench my thirst and supply me with unconditional love ALL THE TIME. 1 Corinthians also addresses the whole idea of standing firm in your faith. If there is one thing to remember before I head to Ocean City to carry out his will it is this: hold firm to his truths. As a woman, who others will look up to, I desperately want to hold firm to his truths and pour out his word to these women. I want to be bold and faithfully live out his word that he has provided for us! The only way I am going to be able to do this is by focusing on how he completes me and how my peace and comfort are found through him alone. Psalm 145 sums it up quite a bit! I LOVE this psalm…its the one psalm that always gives me hope and reassures me of so much…
I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, LORD;
your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.
The LORD upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
He is slow to anger. He is abounding in love. He hears my cries. He is good to all. I will meditate on his wonderful works. He is RICH in love. His kingdom is everlasting. He lifts up all who are bowed down. He is near to all who call. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him…how comforting and peaceful my God is!