There is nothing like the supernatural presence of God.  Whether it be in a counseling session when a client is having numerous aha moments, or whether it is deep quality time with your family and friends.  God is all about engagement, connection and community.  And if you know me very well, you will know that I do not believe in coincidences.

I remember years ago hearing our pastor say, “When is the last time that God did something in your life that could ONLY be explained by HIM?”  In other words, it’s a time in your life that makes no sense other than it was something God Himself orchestrated.  It’s absolutely a fun way to live.  A friend who runs a ministry in TX had T-shirts made that says, “You can’t make this stuff up!”  I believe HE is doing things in our lives all the time, but we get so busy we just don’t see it.  Ask Him to help you not miss what He is doing in your life.  It will strengthen your faith like nothing else.

When we struggle, and we all do, it is helpful to look back on the faithfulness of God from previous years.  The Scriptures show us this wisdom over and over.  In Lamentations Chapter 3 Jeremiah is hurting.  He is mad at God and he is letting God know it!  After 20 verses of venting you see Jeremiah come back to his senses.  He then states, “YET this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

I love the honesty of people in the Bible like Jeremiah or King David in the Psalms.  He also told it like it was.  No sugar coating.  His words wasn’t reality but it was exactly how he felt.  Are you close enough to God that you can be honest with Him?  He welcomes honest words from a heart that is hurting.  He doesn’t judge you or condemn you.  Let me say that again, “He welcome your honest words.”  I often say that you cannot have intimacy with someone unless you have honesty.  How close do you feel toward the person that you hide things from or hold back your words from?  We have to be real and authentic in our relationships to feel close and safe.  Jesus wants you to know that you are safe with Him.  Be honest and then ask Him, “NOW, Father, what’s the truth?”  And stop and listen.  It’s amazing how He can bring you back around to the truth through a scripture or a friend’s encouragement or through placing thoughts in your mind.  Remaining in our negative stinkin thinkin will ADD tremendous pain to a hurting heart.  God is a God of comfort!  He wants to console you in your pain.