He's Got You!

I recently found myself in a seemingly impossible situation, caught between a rock and a hard place. The task ahead of me was so overwhelming standing in the face of the limited resources I had at the time. My head and heart felt so heavy because I had exhausted all possible options. I was completely and utterly stuck. So I went to my favorite 'spot' and talked to God. I remember telling Him that I  so desperately needed a solution, and it would have to be a miracle because my human mind could not come up with any.

Soon after I made that prayer, an overwhelming peace came over me. Everyday God allows me to experience a fresh revelation of what it means to have peace that passes all understanding. It is the ability to stand still, and calm when all around you is like quick sand.  It can be likened to being in the eye of a storm; the point at which a hurricane rotates. It's usually extremely chaotic all around, but there’s least pressure at the center of it. This is the kind of peace God gives when you are overwhelmed by the pressures of life.

Back to my story... 

I went home and decided that I would not continue to over-process that which I had no control over. As a matter of fact, I knew that since I had committed it to God, He would show me what to do in due time. What I did not anticipate was that God would answer my prayer before the end of that day. I got one phone call that changed everything around! One! Not two...just one. That’s the God I serve. He hears and answers me, and each time He does so in ways that blow my mind.

You see, sometimes our human frailty and limitations make us think that God is a reflection of us. Which means that when we are stuck, he is stuck too. When we are overwhelmed, we think he is overwhelmed too. When we are frazzled we think heaven is in a frenzy. But that could not be further from the truth. Gods’ nature is constant, and consistent. He is who He says He is. El-shaddai, God almighty. Jehovah Rapha, God who heals. Jehovah Jireh (we all know this one)- God our provider. El-Roi, the God who saw me in my distress.  He is not a fair-weather God whose nature is based on fleeting feelings. He is God of all times and seasons- keen on keeping his promises to His children, and He hasn’t broken one yet.

So this was a profound lesson and reminder for me, not to be anxious about anything because I am a child of the Most High God. Which means that my business is already handled. Everything that concerns me is taken care of. 

Don’t you ever wonder about the little things that happen as you go through life? When you have no money to buy food and someone drops by your house with a bag of groceries? When you are downcast and a song plays on radio that speaks directly to your situation? How about sitting in Church and thinking the preacher must have inside information on your life because they seem to be speaking directly at you? Or when you feel so lonely and a little child comes to hug you? 

Photography by Emmanuel Jambo

Did you think for a moment that it happened by chance? Beloved, that was a whisper from heaven. Your Father wanted you to know that He is still watching over you, meeting your every need.

Sometimes it takes faith and waiting on God to experience his blessings, and hard as it may be to understand, the strain pulls us closer to our source of life. As you go through your day, remember that God’s got you. As you lay down to sleep, remember that He watches over you. As you go about your business please remember that the things that matter to you (even the little ones), matter to Him too.

From my heart to yours,

Kambua M.

Dear God,

It seems that every time I try to do things that are outside your will for me, I end up falling flat on my face- Hurt. Broken. Busted. Disgusted. Wasted. Tired. It would also seem, that I never learn...sometimes I do actually, but only after making the same mistakes over and over again. 

It’s so ironical how I can go through pain, and then once the breakthrough comes, I forget all the drama, like it was never there! I forget that had I made different choices, I would not have walked that regrettable path in the first place. And yet here I am...again...in need of you. Healer...Mender...Redeemer. 

Photography by Emmanuel Jambo 

God you said that I should come boldly before your throne of grace that I may obtain mercy. So here I am, asking you to smooth out my rough ages. Praying that you will breathe new life into me. In the same way that you called Lazarus up from the grave, I ask that you call out the areas in my life that are in need of your resurrection. I pray that you restore my joy, and my peace.

In the toughest of times I will praise you, knowing that you are not only interested in what you have called me to do, but also in who I am becoming. My journey matters to you because the bends on the winding road all work together to point back to you- the way, the truth, and the life.

And finally God, I realize that I am not the only one who may be downcast, discouraged and feeling defeated. So I pray that as you do your work in me may you also extend your grace to anyone reading this. Make them fruitful in their affliction. Let them sense that you are moving even when they do not feel you. Give them the courage and humility to cry out for help when they lose their way.

At this moment, even though it may seem that my hope is intricately intertwined with despair, I know that you, Yahweh, are with me...walking beside me...singing songs of deliverance over me. 

In the strangest and stillest of nights you are right here with me.

Amen.

From my heart to yours,

Kambua M.

You Must Win

When the year began, I shared with you that I was choosing to stay hopeful in spite of all that had happened in my life. As I wrote, I never knew that in less than a week I would be laying my little niece to rest. It was a devastating experience for my family and definitely not the way to start a new year. But you know, we are still staying hopeful. My prayer has been that God will not allow our hope to be cut off. You see, sometimes life can deal you blow after blow, after blow... but our victory in God is guaranteed. It is like a match that has been fixed- however many punches the enemy throws, we are guaranteed to win. 

Rachel Johnston Photography

A little while ago someone read through my blog and decided to write me a lengthy message whose summary was: Stop believing in God.  Ordinarily my first instinct would have been anger, and self-defense. I would have retaliated in an equally lengthy manner...but instead my heart broke for him, because you see, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are lost and are perishing. I cling on to God despite everything I may have lost because I when I look back I see that what I have gained is so much more... I also know that these trials, the testing of my faith is only for a moment. 

I am not besotted, drunk on false hope and clinging to a nonexistent possibility.  This is not a monumental effort; this is as real as it gets.

For anyone who is reading this and feeling that they have been standing in the rain too long, hear me say: it will subside. The best thing about winter, is that spring is coming. The best thing about darkness is that the dawn awaits. The best thing about mourning is that joy is guaranteed.  God is about to turn things around for you...do you perceive it?

From my heart to yours,

Kambua M.