Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?”
Psalm 22: 1 (NLT)

My thoughts exactly, every now and then.

And if the truth be told—now, a bit more often than—then.

Maybe we have wondered too often lately—God, where in the world have you been?

Or screamed silently through tears—Lord, I don’t understand why something like this happened.

I just don’t understand.

We see children of any age struggling to find the life they were created to live.

Without a rudder being held by the hand of God.

And too many of those children—our children—at even younger ages, being pulled away from the life God created them to live by hiding behind media screens, in groups, clubs or gatherings—often unconnected with any influence or guidance from God.

Headed toward living a life marked by never having reached their full God-given potential.

*******

But then…

We remember these words of God reminding us and calling us—

“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!…
For I am the Lord your God, your Savior…”
Isaiah 43: 1-3 (TLB)

“You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others…”
Matthew 5: 14-15 (ESV)

In my better moments, my thoughts exactly. Yours, too.

God has been there with us before, and is there now, actively at work in our lives for our good, for the good of others, and all for His glory.

Our God, and our Savior.

The key for us is to return to Him. And stay with Him.

In the midst of whatever we’re going through, to allow God to, even then, use us and work through us.

The key for us is to let Him shine through us to the world around us.

Allow our lives through their ups and downs, but fully surrendered to Him, to be a loving, encouraging and lifting light to everyone we meet and all who might see us.

No matter what we’re going through, we always need to remember that He is our God, our Savior—who will lead us through the deep waters, great trouble and the rivers of difficulty.

And then surrendered to Him, trusting Him, and with our arms outstretched—

He will shine through us.

Through the darkness in the lives and world around us.

A light lifting the world and those in it.

Shine through us, Lord.

In His Name–Scott