When You Believe

I was talking with a dear friend today about how I am an eternal optimist. No really, give me any cruddy situation and I can usually find something positive or some silver lining to hold on to hope.

My friend somewhat jokingly stated that she often calls me when she wants me to help bring hope to a situation she is going through. And she also admitted she will call someone else when she just needs to sulk and let misery join her company.

I haphazardly laughed it off and later got to thinking; How did it come to be that I am so positive? So optimistic? Often looking at the world with a glass half full perspective?

While I do not have that answer fully nailed down, my best guess is two part:

First: I have God on my side. I truly believe that we have a wonder-working God. There have been far too many times he has showed up and provided for me and my family. I have been witness to his outpouring of love, generosity, kindness, and faithfulness.

I think the singer and songwriter Brandon Lake says it best: I've lived stories that have proved your faithfulness. I've seen miracles my mind can't comprehend. I believe you're the wonder-working God. All the miracles I've seen are too good to not believe. You're the wonder-working God and you heal because you love. Oh, the miracles we'll see, you're too good to not believe (To Good To Not Believe, by Brand Lake).

Second: I have been through many valleys of darkness. Have you ever been through a cancer diagnosis? I have personally experienced that battle and triumph, as have my brother, mother in law, and several other close family members and friends.

Have you ever lost a child? Raising my hand here too! The gut wrenching pain and heartache you experience as you daily let your nearly two year old child slip away closer and closer to heaven is something I will carry with me for life.

Have you ever adopted or fostered a child? We are on numbers #3 and #4 currently. Holding the tensions of hope and deep sorrow in both hands is something words cannot quite describe. To see a child go through things most adults will never bear often brings me to my knees.

Have you ever had your home burglarized, ransacked, and your personal belongings stolen? One more hand going up here! That cuts deeps as you daily assess your level of safety in this world and in your own home. Suddenly locks on doors and house sitters during vacation seem as vital as the air we breath each day.

With all this said, I have seen God use those valleys as a classroom in my own life. In those valleys he has taught me to trust him day after day after day. Trust that he has already won the war, while I am in one of many battles. Trust that he has my best interests at heart and is a kind, loving, merciful, caring God.

He has taught me to pause and look at all the people around me- helping, caring, nurturing, pouring into my situation. The miraculous can often be found in or near these people- dropping everything to help a friend or loved one. The backstories of these people stepping out of their comfort zone and pouring out love in only the ways they know how is inspiring and can literally take your breath away (in the best possible butterflies in your chest sort of way).

He has taught me that the enemy wants us to fear. The enemy will place circumstances in our paths that were meant to create fear. The enemy wants us to live in fear. The enemy wants us to use those fears to guide our decisions. This is not of heaven. God says in 2 Timothy 1:7 "God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control". God wants us to live our lives filled with love and let that love, God-granted power, and self control be the key drivers in our decisions here on earth.

Friends- if you find yourself in a trial today, I want to encourage you that you are not alone. Having only a mustard seed of faith... your trial is going to create perseverance. That perseverance will create a good character in you. And that character will bring you so much hope (Romans 5:3-5).

God is with us always. We only need to believe and look for him- whether that be a beautifully painted sunset, the crisp smell of a cold winter breeze, the warm sunshine on our skin, or listening to the sweet giggle of a child. He is there in all the moments- guiding, protecting, nurturing, caring, and loving us all. We simply need to believe it.

"Many nights we've prayed With no proof anyone could hear In our hearts a hopeful song We barely understood Now we are not afraid Although we know There's much to fear We were moving mountains long Before we knew we could

There can be miracles When you believe Though hope is frail it's hard to kill Who knows what miracles You can achieve When you believe Somehow you will You will when you believe"

Song: When you Believe, by Pentatonix