Don't you wish everything we planned unfolded just like we dreamed?

We pray. We plan. We step out in faith. We picture the road ahead. But life rarely goes exactly as planned, and somewhere along the way, bad news finds us all. A text. A phone call. A diagnosis. A door that closes.

Just last night, we got one of those calls. Now what?

The Bible says, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." After all these years of walking with Jesus and carrying the cross around the world, I've found that God's directed steps rarely look like my plans. The roads I never would have chosen often become the very places I’ve met His goodness and faithfulness.

In Isaiah 6, the Bible tells us that King Uzziah died. Bad news. But Isaiah lifted his eyes and saw the Lord, high and lifted up. Even though an earthly king had fallen, the King of all kings was still on His throne. The Bible continues and says that the seraphim cried, "The WHOLE earth IS FULL of His glory!" EVERY part of the earth. Not was. Not will be. But, IS. Right now. And, FULL -- overflowing with His glory!

EVERY part of the earth IS OVERFLOWING with His glory?! Really?!! How can they say that?! A king just died. And I’m sure a lot of other tragedies happened within that year. How were the seraphim able to say that? I think it was because their eyes weren’t on a dead king. Their eyes were continually gazing at the King of all kings. His beauty. His majesty. His glory!

If we’re not careful, fear can cloud our vision. In the storm, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water and called Him a ghost. Pain and sorrow can do the same. At the tomb, grief kept Mary from recognizing Jesus standing right in front of her. She thought He was a gardener.

Bad news can do the same to us. If we're not careful, our circumstances; the news we hear can distort the truth of our situation.

So, when bad, or sad news comes, let's lift our eyes again. Let’s look past dead kings, beyond the storms, beyond the tears and let’s look at Jesus. The holy and glorious One! He's still high and lifted up. He’s still reigning. Still faithful. And ALWAYS with us!

Jesus hasn't left us. He's WAAAY closer than we could ever imagine!

Thanks for walking together with us.

We would be so thankful if you could be praying for us during this season.
God bless you!!