Me too.....
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Follow SHINE on Instagram: @shinegirlsshine
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One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
I had this grand idea of posting more in 2018. Well, it is February 2nd, and I have one post (well, now two) under my belt. Yay me.
To be honest, I just haven't felt like writing. At all.
I have a lot to say, but really just haven't felt like saying it.
It takes effort, time, and coherent thoughts (well, sometimes) to string a post together.
Every day I will sit and look at my computer screen and then just turn it off. Blank.
No motivation. None.
So, here I am today. The sun is out and so am I. Stepping out here in the blogger world praying to add a little sunshine to someone's life.
I told my friends recently, I feel like I am in a spiritual slump. Nothing major, just a little slump.
I don't feel disconnected from the Lord, I just feel like He has been quieter than normal.
Yesterday, I was out for a walk, lamenting to the Lord, and I requested this: Lord, please reveal yourself to me. Right now. I believe you are here. In fact, I know you are here, but I miss Your Voice. I miss You."
Five seconds after breathing out that prayer, a big blue bird swoops down in front of me. I gasped.
Okay, You are here, Lord.
Tears streaming down my face, I whisper to Him that I have missed Him.
He hasn't gone anywhere, but the quietness is deafening at times.
In my earlier walk with the Lord, I would hear Him all the time. I would see Him in everything. My spiritual eyes were always on.
But, lately, I just do not feel that same fire.
Can you relate?
Then, I remember the story of Elijah. Remember him?
Let me remind you..
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13
God reminded me in that moment that I am always looking for Him in the big things. In the miraculous. In the giant, take your breath away moments...
When, all along, He is there in the mundane moments, the small moments. the gentle breeze...
We can't get used to the mountain top experiences with Jesus because the valleys are coming too. The valleys are where our steadfast faith kicks in.
The valleys are where He carries us yet we don't know He is even near.
The valleys are where the seeds are planted deep and dark underneath the soil of our faith to be sprouted when the season is ripe.
These seasons can be hard. Cold. Dark,
Yet, we have this Hope...
Morning follows the night.
The sun rise will always come...but we have to stay faithful in the sunsets.
If you are in a valley...
Stay faithful.
Stay in His Word.
Stay prayerful.
Stay connected with other believers.
Stay hopeful.
Stay steadfast.
Or you will miss the gentle whisper of His Voice....
Elijah may have missed His Voice if he had not been expecting and listening.
Oh, Friend.
I wish we were face to face so that I could hear your story. Know you more. And hold your precious hand as you walk through this valley....
I would shake my head in agreement...me too.
You are not alone.
God is with you even when you don't feel Him.
He is faithful and true.
Lean into Him in the valley.
He is closer than you know.
leaning in,
jill
Follow SHINE on Instagram: @shinegirlsshine
Need prayer? Email shinegirlsshine@gmail.com
Want to receive our weekly email? Go here.
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
I had this grand idea of posting more in 2018. Well, it is February 2nd, and I have one post (well, now two) under my belt. Yay me.
To be honest, I just haven't felt like writing. At all.
I have a lot to say, but really just haven't felt like saying it.
It takes effort, time, and coherent thoughts (well, sometimes) to string a post together.
Every day I will sit and look at my computer screen and then just turn it off. Blank.
No motivation. None.
So, here I am today. The sun is out and so am I. Stepping out here in the blogger world praying to add a little sunshine to someone's life.
I told my friends recently, I feel like I am in a spiritual slump. Nothing major, just a little slump.
I don't feel disconnected from the Lord, I just feel like He has been quieter than normal.
Yesterday, I was out for a walk, lamenting to the Lord, and I requested this: Lord, please reveal yourself to me. Right now. I believe you are here. In fact, I know you are here, but I miss Your Voice. I miss You."
Five seconds after breathing out that prayer, a big blue bird swoops down in front of me. I gasped.
Okay, You are here, Lord.
Tears streaming down my face, I whisper to Him that I have missed Him.
He hasn't gone anywhere, but the quietness is deafening at times.
In my earlier walk with the Lord, I would hear Him all the time. I would see Him in everything. My spiritual eyes were always on.
But, lately, I just do not feel that same fire.
Can you relate?
Then, I remember the story of Elijah. Remember him?
Let me remind you..
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13
God reminded me in that moment that I am always looking for Him in the big things. In the miraculous. In the giant, take your breath away moments...
When, all along, He is there in the mundane moments, the small moments. the gentle breeze...
We can't get used to the mountain top experiences with Jesus because the valleys are coming too. The valleys are where our steadfast faith kicks in.
The valleys are where He carries us yet we don't know He is even near.
The valleys are where the seeds are planted deep and dark underneath the soil of our faith to be sprouted when the season is ripe.
These seasons can be hard. Cold. Dark,
Yet, we have this Hope...
Morning follows the night.
The sun rise will always come...but we have to stay faithful in the sunsets.
If you are in a valley...
Stay faithful.
Stay in His Word.
Stay prayerful.
Stay connected with other believers.
Stay hopeful.
Stay steadfast.
Or you will miss the gentle whisper of His Voice....
Elijah may have missed His Voice if he had not been expecting and listening.
Oh, Friend.
I wish we were face to face so that I could hear your story. Know you more. And hold your precious hand as you walk through this valley....
I would shake my head in agreement...me too.
You are not alone.
God is with you even when you don't feel Him.
He is faithful and true.
Lean into Him in the valley.
He is closer than you know.
leaning in,
jill
