The hike

So have you ever been just walking along and out of nowhere there’s just this nugget of absolute truth and love that drops in your lap?

I am a self-proclaimed amateur hiker and this is EXACTLY what happened to me the last time I was out in nature alone. In God’s perfect timing, it was just what I needed at that moment. You see I was struggling with a question in my heart on if I was worthy after all I had done and how desperately I tried to fight his presence in my life. I questioned if I was even qualified to talk about Him and share my heart. And he met me there in the most beautiful way. 

Allow me to paint a scenario for you. Imagine you are out in the woods, walking along a path, taking in the beautiful creation around you. Breathing deeply the fresh air after a long Winter. The sun is trickling through the barren trees. Then all of a sudden, you notice an uprooted tree with stones sticking out of the dirt and root and the first thing you see is how clean the rocks are in this mess. Do you see it in your mind?

Almost instantaneously, from nowhere was God’s voice saying, “Just like when you received my love into your heart.”  

I stopped dead in my tracks.

WOW. 

I had been praying for forgiveness and to help me forgive myself for choices that lead me away from God. I had been asking if I was still qualified to be His. 

You see when I asked God to live in my heart, He knew all my days and where I would go but he wanted me anyway. He pursued me anyway. He loved me anyway. Despite, turning away from Him, He was there to meet me where I was because He is never too far to run home. (Psalm 139: 14-16 NIV)

The rocks were a reminder that although I had been focused on myself and not on Him for a while, He qualified me by washing my sins clean. In the messiness of the roots of evil in our lives, the roots of bad choices, the roots of darkness in our hearts… He can wash us clean of our sins if we run to Him. (John 3:1-21 NIV)

I don’t know about you but this thought is just so overwhelming. He loves us so much and deeply desires for us to seek Him in all we do. He can fulfill us more than anything else. John 4:13-14 tells us, “… but whoever drinks the water I gave him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (NIV)

 I am so grateful He never stops pursuing me. 

I hope this provides you with the hope that you are never too far from the love of the Father. All who run to him make it… ALWAYS. (John 14: 6-7 NIV)

How has God spoken to you lately?