There seems to be an intimacy with God that can only be understood through the lens of trials and pain.

It’s one thing to read about God’s faithfulness, but entirely another to walk with Him daily and see Him faithfully carry you through things you never imagined you’d ever get through.

It’s one thing to read about a fiery furnace (Dan 3), and entirely a faith-building-another to see God stand with you through your own fiery trial and come away resolutely knowing God can rescue, but even if He does not, you’ll never serve or worship another god. (Dan 3:18).

It’s one thing to be tempted with an unholy temptation, but instead choose to walk away because your eyes clearly saw God make a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13), and you confidently know God will keep making those kind of ways.

It’s one thing to read about Abraham laying down his Isaac (Gen 22), until God asks you to lay down something you never thought you could, only to see God show up and provide for your heart in a way you never expected…and you forever find yourself holding ever more loosely the things of this world.

It’s one thing to be misunderstood or forgotten, until you experience the fellowship of your Savior reminding you He did not come to be served but to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28), and you come away no longer needing the praise of others but determined to live your life for His glory alone.

It’s one thing to believe Jesus fed the 5000 (Matt 14), but it’s even more awe-inspiring when you see Him work a miracle to make your own ends meet and even shower on extra to spare.

What a Savior! What a good, personal God!

How He desires to make His presence known and give us peace as we hold tight to Him. May we praise and trust Him!

And, I’m reminded, that even that enduring, holding-on faith is itself, also, a gift from God, and none of us can boast, except in our precious Savior (Gal 6:14).

whataSavior

TrustJesus

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