I’ve been in church my entire life, was saved when I was seven, and was baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was twelve. I’ve never not loved church or fallen out of love with Jesus. Serving is my favorite. There’s nothing I don’t love about serving Jesus and the church. The reason I tell you this is because I’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to church. I’ve experienced a lot of things. Jesus is very real to me. BUT as an adult, I can’t remember a time when I felt His presence closer than I did last summer. He was so close; it was like I could feel His breath on my face.
I don’t know if you’ve ever dealt with a family death and its aftermath, but August of 2021 was my first time. Because my mom was unable, at that time, to care for herself or the details, the responsibility of that fell on me. What a divine experience. Here’s my story:
Psalm 100:1-5 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
My word for last year was WORSHIP. I’d been asking the Lord all year to help me show Him worship in all that I did. I wanted to show Him in everything how much He was worth to me. I got my chance. My stepdad died in August. The preparation for this came for months before in sermons, in my favorite worship songs, in my conversations with God. I was prepared physically, emotionally, and spiritually to help my family walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
I got a front row seat to experience the very personal attention of God. When navigating the details that follow the death of a loved one (which I had never walked through before), God led me to people with specific answers, led me to the best funeral home, and gave me the strength to deal with hundreds of details on little sleep. He was and is my comfort, my strength, my protector, my guide. I truly had never experienced His attention so personally as I had in those months. It was such an exciting, albeit sad, privilege. Does that make sense?
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I experienced this on an hourly basis. His presence was so real to me.
Without this “storm”, I wouldn’t have had the privilege of knowing God in this way. I praise Him for all of it. I praise Him in all of it. There’s no one like our God. I still marvel at the way God was preparing me and strengthening me for this marathon. And this event will strengthen me for the next one. God wants to make us more like Him; He wants a close relationship with us…He’ll use “whatever” to make that happen. I’m so thankful. Whatever it takes, I’m in.
I challenge you today to look at all that is happening around you. Instead of asking “WHY?”, ask God “WHAT? What are you trying to show me, God?” “What do I need to learn through this?” Find God in the middle of it. Here’s there. I promise. On the other side of this, you’ll be stronger. God promises.
Pastor Shay Cole, Real Life Church, Ft Lauderdale