Noticed

My daddy was a preacher and for the greater part of my childhood, I went to church, I sang hymns and I memorized scripture. I went to youth rallies, bible camps and bible bowls. I am very grateful for an upbringing that focused on God. However, when I became a young adult, a wife and mother, I realized I did not have a faith of my own and I began to question the faith of my parents. I rebelled against God, railed against His people and avoided His worship. My parents had moved out of state and so I knew they would not notice. I embraced sin, even sought it out, although I believe now, it would have found me anyway. While I was not out drinking and carousing and using drugs, I was a prime candidate for the corps of satan. I was headed down a path that would mean the destruction of my soul. I was miserable and lost and afraid and hopeless. And God noticed.
He sent someone to love my soul, someone to remind of the love and zeal that had once been a part of my character. He pricked my conscience and broke my spirit and I fell to my knees, seeking His forgiveness, searching for my faith, striving to regain my spiritual footing. And God noticed. He wrapped His arms around me, He used a Christian sister, full of compassion and evangelistic fervor, a woman without a judgemental bone in her body and together they drew me back into a committed and intimate relationship with Him, back into a relationship with His body, back into peace. Once again, I experienced that overwhelming sense of hope and the unrelenting sense of purpose that propelled me into service for Him.
Sometimes, I feel burned out and overwhelmed with ministering. Somedays I feel like I have been beating my head against the wall. Sometimes my heart is broken by the decisions of those I love. I feel satan pushing, pulling, attacking, aiming to harm and destroy my faith. Sometimes my own selfish wants and desires keep me from choosing the path God would have me choose. Then I get confused, blinded by the cares of the world and I begin to think it truly is about me. Sometimes I feel all alone. So I withdraw, try to hide in the crowd, believing if I am really quiet and don't make waves, I can escape unnoticed. But God notices.
His Spirit reminds me that I am not my own, that I am not alone, and that my Father has plans for me. His Word instructs me, shows me the path I should take, shows me that my God is a promise keeping God and teaches me to rely on Him, to focus on Him, to look to Him. His people encourage and uplift me. They tell me that they love me and pray for me, reminding me that I am not alone. His daily blessings remind me that He loves me and that I am nothing without Him. All that I am and all that I have are because of Him, and I re-learn that it is not about me---it is about God. (Thanks Chris)
When my Lord returns, I have faith that the King of Kings will recognize me as one of His own. I have the assurance that He will take me to live with Him eternally. I have the promise that there will then be no more hardship, no night, no tears.
This journey we are on is often difficult. Times are often hard and discouragement often runs rampant. But we have the God of Creation on our side. We have His promises and His helps and His guides. He is the Giver of strength, the Giver of courage, the Giver of hope. And He is never far from -----us all we have to do is take notice.

Peace
Neva