The One Thing that Remains, Even When Nothing Is Left

My heart aches for so many whose worlds are shattering into a thousand pieces today. Those who are walking through a dense fog that refuses to lift. Those for whom the next breath seems all but impossible. 

Because I understand. I’ve been there. I’ll likely be there again.

Live long enough, and we all experience it:  

The diagnosis no one ever wants to hear. 

The death of a child.

The break up of a seemingly solid marriage. 

The pain that refuses to fade. 

Oh, Lord, this is not how you created this world to be! 

Oh, Lord, this is not how you created this world to be! Click To Tweet

The garden … remember the garden? When everything communed directly with one another and with God. Heaven on earth … until it too shattered. 

No, this is not how it could have been. This is not how it should have been. But this is how it is. And this is how it will be until Jesus returns.

Pain and sorrow will keep coming. They will strike again.

The One Thing

And when it appears nothing is left to hope for, there is still one thing, the most important thing: the Creator of the universe and the Savior of our souls.

When it appears nothing is left to hope for, there is still one thing, the most important thing: our Creator. Click To Tweet

When everything was stripped away from Job, God reminded him that one thing remained, God Himself.

Oh, Lord, how we need you—now, as much as ever! 

And we have Him.

As I see deep sorrow around me—happenings that make no sense, occurrences that sap the last remaining breath away—a refrain plays in my head. It’s a hauntingly hopeful song. It reminds me of the one thing that remains even during the most difficult times.

“Our God is in Control” by Steven Curtis Chapman

God Is in Control

Yes, friends, even in this, our God is in control. 

Even in this, our God is in control. Click To Tweet

At times it’s just a flicker of hope our battered and bruised selves can barely note. But it’s there. 

A flicker that can become a flame again—that will become a flame again—because it does burn, bright and true and real, and it will eventually burn through the fog encompassing our shattered hearts. 

For all of you who have had your last breath knocked out of you. For each of you whose next gasp is torturous, who don’t know how you will make it through the next moment much less the next day, put this song on repeat.

Listen to it again, take note of the hope it offers. Grab onto the truth, the flicker that, because of Jesus Christ, will once again become a burning flame in your soul.

Our God, He is in control … even in this. Oh, how we need to know this! Oh, how we need Him! 

And because He is in control, there is always hope.

In Christ, we will one day have the Garden back again, in an even more glorious display of perfect communion. Until then, we have the comfort that God never relinquishes His control over the happenings of this world. 

So hold on, let the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, fan that flicker into a flame again. Grasp the lifeline of hope and don’t let go!

“The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10

Reflections: Who in your sphere of influence needs this reminder that our God is in control? Or maybe it’s you: How are you being battered and bruised today?

I’m thrilled to link up with Holley Gerth for Coffee for Your Heart on Wednesday and Suzie Eller for #livefree Thursday and this week’s prompt, “I need you.” I love these special linkups. They provide an abundance of great inspiration and encouragement all in one place. Click on the images below to check them out.

By His grace ≈

Julie