08 May Twelve

Twelve years ago God gave me the sweetest word wrapped up in an unexpected and frightening event: “Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). That sweet Word launched me into one of the very best seasons of my life with Jesus.

“Be still…” God called a “time out” for me to come away with Him… to know Him like I’d never known Him before, and to love Him more deeply than I ever thought I could. It was a holy parenthesis (💗); a time purposed and appointed for me to inhale and exhale God. It caused me to be able to see Him, learn from Him, to know the kindness of my Savior and to say with certainty, “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

That parenthesis for me was breast cancer, and it marked me forever— physically and spiritually, and taught me more than ever to know deeply, into the marrow of my bones, that Jesus is the only One who can do anything about everything that concerns me.

What a beautiful Savior. What a beautiful friend. What a beautiful name like no other. Jesus… the One and Only. There is none like you, Lord. None like you.

Has God given you a holy parenthesis? What is it? What was it? Make the most of it, friend… If He’s allowed it, whatever it is, you can believe there is great gold to be found in the midst of it. As I say so often, some of His most precious gifts come wrapped in pretty ugly paper.

xoxo – P💗