know me by His scars.

“What do we do when we’re anxious? Rejoice in the Lord! What do we do when we’re suffering? Rejoice in the Lord! When people are against you? Rejoice in the Lord!” – Psallos, Rejoice in the Lord (4:4-7)

And what do we do when we can’t sleep? Rejoice in the Lord! Pray. Meditate on His Word.. and cry out to Him in a blog? Eh, I think that counts too.

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise You with joyful lips, when I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night; for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” – Psalm 63:5-8 (ESV)

Even if my singing is just inside my heart, because honestly?

1. The clock just hit 4AM.
2. My daughter climbed into bed with me, and right now she’s comfortable resting in my shadow. And tonight/this morning, I’m far more comfortable with her here, so no heart to move her back to her bed, even if I’m occasionally getting swatted with a tiny arm.

But that’s just it. Even so, my heart is still singing for joy. “…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10b (NKJV)

I spent the last post talking about the quick transition between mountain/valley, that they both have their purpose. And here I am, caught in this wild dichotomy of the promises of God being fulfilled (they are all yes and amen, just you wait on Him), in two very different ways simultaneously.

The coin has been flipped and somehow landed with both sides up – mountain and valley, desert and garden, death and life, all miraculously and supernaturally coexisting. What new mystery is this?

And He is unquestionably doing something new here. Turning the page, unveiling a new portion of the tapestry He’s been weaving, stretching, growing, orchestrating.

Surrounding me with His unfailing love, hedging me in behind and before, speaking as a voice behind me telling when to turn left and turn right, taking me by the hand to show me His Way, so of course I’m following. Trust and obey – there really is no other way.

What else do we do when this happens? We rejoice in the Lord!

“Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. Have a reputation for gentleness, and never forget the nearness of your Lord. Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4: 4-7 (PHILLIPS)

But like I said, I’m looking at mountain and valley right now.

So what’s the flip side of the anxious, hard part? The beautiful picture. And what do we do when something bigger and better than we could ever think to hope is being revealed to us? We rejoice in the Lord!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-22 (NKJV)

We rejoice, we pray, we give thanks. We take whatever He has for us, accept it and receive it – the good and the bad, the parts we like and the parts we don’t. Because we don’t know the plan, but we know Him. And He is good. Always.

And then we offer it back to Him. All of it, all of us. Because He is able to keep it for us when it’s too heavy or too much or too overwhelming or too awesome. And He is able to keep me. Just as He is able to keep you.

Press into Him in these sweet and sometimes long watches of the night.

Cling to Him; He will uphold you.

Whatever comes, whatever lies before me.

The best is DEFINITELY still yet to come. After all, it’s almost 5AM.

Emily