you are not alone – Trading Paper Crowns

Dear gentle woman, full of hopes and pretty dreams. Lift your head up high, feel the weight of that crown on your full head of glorious locks. Smile into the sunlight and lap up those precious promises engraved by the hands of God.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” – Luke 1:45

Why is your soul forlorn dear one? Can’t you feel the fire within your soul – that powerful spirit that strengthens you and sustains you?

Do not fear. The angels of old have repeated this phrase time and time again to the followers of Christ. Take those words to heart and digest them.

With God you are mighty, apart from him you are a simple shell of a being. Breathe precious daughter of the King. Inhale the fragrance of his pledges to you. Trust in this man of his word.

“And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:20

You are not forsaken. You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. In fact, you are right where the Savior wants you – in the palm of his stable hand.

Can you feel his presence – that peace that descends on your spirit? He cares for you with an unmatchable love. He longs for your joy to be complete in him. When you hope wholeheartedly in him, you will not be disappointed.

“… those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” – Isaiah 49:23

Lay yourself aside sweet child. Shed that skin of old and lather yourself with the soft newness of God’s promises and covenant – made to you.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

The LORD will fulfill his promises, and in Christ – your storehouses will overflow. Trust, seek and knock – and he will open that sturdy door and welcome you into his glorious presence beaming with affection.

Reflection. It’s a beautiful thing. For by reflecting on events in life – one realizes the goodness of the Maker. Life can be heartbreaking. After all, it’s a journey in an imperfect world. A world that is empty, shallow and depressed without the goodness of Christ.

You can’t control the circumstances around you, the actions of others and especially the movements of the enemy. But, you can pray, praise and delight in the Father of Perfect Light particularly when things don’t go your way – because he is still good.

One phrase in particular in Daniel when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were about to step into the fiery furnace sends chills down my spine…

‘But if not.’

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” – Daniel 3: 17, 18

You see – God does not promise that he will save us from the flames of life – of course he can; but, it does not work that way. He promises to dance with us in the forbidding inferno.

This Water Walker speaks peace to the uneasy seas, out-of-control brush fires and clouds filled with thunder and lightning. His voice is the honey that soothes our throats so sore from yelling at the waves.

He did not save the disciples from the rough seas, they still had to experience the wake and despair; but, Jesus was right there with them and eventually calmed the storm. He did not save the Israelites from walking in the wilderness; but he sent food their way – along with a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.