During this internship I have been having a lot of ups and downs. I have had moments where I am thankful where God has me and then there are moments when I am completely lost. In these moments I just fall on my knees and start sobbing.
I start questioning why God has me here and what He is doing with me here. If you have ever felt like this, know that you are not alone. We are struggling together. Life is not going to be perfect, nor will it be easy. However, whether you are on a mountain or in a valley, stand in awe of God.
Recently, I was reminded of a passage I read earlier in the day: Ecclesiastes 3. There was a title over a section and it said, “stand in awe of God.” The moment I read those words, I felt convicted. I have been so caught up in my own emotions, my mountains and valleys, that I had not stepped back and recognized God for who He is. Yes, God answers our prayers. Yes, He is with us during the mountains and valleys. However, we must stand in awe of Him. He is the God of the universe and we should recognize Him for who He is. Ecclesiastes 5:1 says “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they are doing wrong.”
When we go before God, when we approach our time spent in His Word and in prayer we should come with a willingness to listen, rather than to offer. Yes, we should praise God and offer thanksgiving to Him, but if that is all we are doing then we are missing the glorious being of who God is. Sometimes we just need to step back and recognize that God is God and we are not. With that also being said in verse 2 it says “God is in heaven and you are on earth.” Those words just reminded me that God is God and I am not. It is important to recognize that He is far greater than we are or ever will be.
Standing in awe of God may look a little different for everyone. However, if you are constantly going before Him and asking Him for things and not stopping and recognizing His glory then something is missing. Sometimes to stand in awe of God means you going out in nature and seeing the beauty that He has created around you. It could be you journaling all of the attributes of God. One way I like to stand in awe of God is go to His Word. There are so many passages that just praise God for who He is. One of the places that I end up, especially when in a valley, is in the Psalms. More often than not each chapter is begins and ends with praises to God…. I want to encourage us. Wherever we are or whatever we are doing, pause, and stand in awe of God and who He is.
Sometimes life is great, God is still the same and should be praised. Then sometimes life just sucks, but yet God is still the same and should be praised. Whether you are on a mountain or in a valley, God is still God. He remains the same. Stand and exalt Him for who He is and what He is doing within this broken and sinful world. “Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the of the LORD endures forever…….Praise the LORD” (Psalm 117).
-Karissa Negley
This post was used with permission and originated from knegley.weebly.com
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