Your Cup Will Overflow

Hello Beloved🌸        

Exactly two weeks ago July 13, I celebrated my sisters’ nuptials. That exact day marked the anniversary of my fathers’ death (which for obvious reasons I kept to myself lol😅) For me, it was a day filled with jubilance and festivity but also pensive reflection and thanksgiving. It has been one year since he passed, but in many ways it still feels like yesterday, and it was only a few months ago (on my birthday) that the shock wore off and I began to fully feel the waves and plethora of emotions that come with grief. It may be that your heart has been broken for a different reason, I don’t know if you can relate but sometimes the pain makes you feel [insert here], but there is hope beyond the pain of heartbreak and He is in the person of our Christ and He will comfort you through His Spirit and His people. Thankfully, for the past year God has provided a few safe spaces I have felt comfortable to share the depth of the pain of his passing with and He has comforted me with His words and His truth. It even has become somewhat easier to share openly. The day before his funeral I asked the Lord what He wanted me to share about my father in my tribute. I’ll share one of the things the Lord instructed me to share as well as two other things I have pondered over the last few days:

1. Isaiah 6- “In the year king Uzziah died I saw the Lord lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple.” In times of death, heartache, loss, grief, disappointment, and the list goes on…it is a beautiful opportunity to lift our eyes to the Lord. What has died in your life? is it a dream, relationship, job, or a loved one? What door has closed? Consider that now you have a personal invitation to turn your eyes to Jesus. I know it may feel easier to turn to the pain, anger, anxiety, disappointment, hopelessness or fear but I pray that the words in these passages will give you some courage to do the former- Hebrews 12:2-“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Psalm 121 says - “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence come my help my help comes from the Lord the maker of Heaven and earth.”

2. Psalm 23:5-6“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This past year has also felt arid and desolate at times. A lack of clear direction, rejection, betrayal, unkindness, dishonour disrespect, misunderstandings, hurts, financial struggles. It has felt at times like confusion and perpetual waiting- I could go on and on. TRANSITION- a very awkward space to be in, yet another beautiful opportunity to deepen my trust, hope and dependence on the Lord as I wait for Him. Thankfully, He has provided grace and comfort from the Holy Spirit and others, in the midst of it to persevere. Are you feeling the tension of the transition? The discomfort, as the winds of change blow over you? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the stripping He is doing in you, the shifting and the friction of this season. Beloved, regardless of what you may see in this season, God has declared the words of the psalmist-HIS WORDS- over you, and that is, you are shepherded, provided for, refreshed by Him, restored, sanctified and justified, protected, He is ever present, you are being guided, disciplined, favoured, anointed, living in abundance, secure forever in HIM.

3. Job 1:21-“The Lord gives and the Lord takes away blessed be the Name of the Lord.” Two truths existing here, though in tension, symbiotically, yet still harmoniously. What is important is that whether we have plenty or have little, have received or have had something taken away from us, we must always remember to be content and give thanks. Why? because it is a sacrifice that pleases the Lord, because it is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus and because it guards our hearts against, entitlement, hardness and pride. Job chose to bless the Lord for times of plenty and times of loss, the psalmist says I will bless the Lord at ALL times, that he will not forget His benefits, and that His praise will continually be upon his lips. That beloved is the challenge, today God is calling you to turn your eyes to Him, to have faith for what you don’t yet see, to give thanks sacrificially, and in faith, because even though right now all you may be seeing is your tears, you will soon reap in joy. Your cup will overflow-it is overflowing.

Love you, mean it! 🩷💜🤍🙏       

📷 @hesed.bybella