As I tell our stories on this blog I try to make God and hope the focus.  It’s important to me to share all that God is doing within New Hope, and while some stories are sad they are also full of hope.  As I reflect on the last few weeks there are so many positive things to write about, but the story that weighs on all our hearts is heavy and heart breaking and too sad and graphic to write.  We have found ourselves crying out to God, “Jesus come, Jesus come”.  We have cried with officials on every front and we all have the same feeling.  “Lord we are so small and this is so big—we need you, Jesus come.”

Whenever I feel stuck in a problem, I take a moment to step out of myself and pretend I am giving advice to a friend in the same situation.  It sounds silly, but it often works.  Many times we have good ideas and advice to offer, but have a hard time administering it to ourselves.  But let me tell you--all my verses and words of advice were failing me this week.  All except one truth...

God is on the throne.  When I am afraid I will trust in Him, because He is on the throne.

I don’t know, I don’t understand, I’m not enough, I’m mad and sad and worried and overwhelmed, but God is on throne and I will trust in my King.  He has proven over and over to have our back and that caused me to think of that passage in Isaiah 58...

“Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet....“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed  free and break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? ⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Thank You Lord that you have our back.  Thank you God that we get to approach your throne and cry out to you. Thank you Lord for hearing our cries and drawing near.  Thank you God that your Love is deeper and greater than ours.  We find comfort in knowing that you love her more than we do.  You are on the throne and we will trust in you!