Faithful Until the End

"Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock." - Matthew 7:25

Easy and hard. Wanting to make a decision you don't want to be asked to make. Letting go of control when all you want to do is hold on because you know that's the only way to really get what you want. Trust. It's what it all boils down to.

If you've been keeping up with my blog, you read the other day about how I've had to trust God in a lot of situations recently. Well, that same day, I was reminded about the reality and nearness of one of those situations. Almost immediately, I wanted to cry.

This particular situation is one I've been facing in one way or another for over a year. So from past experience and on the reminder a very good friend, I knew I needed to go to Jesus right away. As I sat in my apartment, I tried to tell God I wasn't ready, but I just couldn't make myself do it. All I could say was, "I trust You." Over and over again. "I trust You."

You see? Earlier this year, God gave me a choice. He gave me the choice of putting my security in Him or putting it in someone and something else. Even after I made the choice to put it in Him, it was a long journey until I actually felt that security. So when I was reminded how close I am to something that not even a year ago probably would have made me fall apart, all I knew to do was trust God. To tell Him that I trust that everything He's done in me this past year has prepared me. To acknowledge that He is my foundation, and that no matter how hard this seems, I know I'll be alright.

The next day, I was reading my Bible when I came across a verse that reminded me of the day God told me to choose Him as my security. I wanted to cry again. It was different than the night before though. This time it was from a sense of overwhelming peace.

Once again, God has proven Himself faithful. He promised me security if I chose Him, and He delivered. He promised me peace and stability in the middle of storms, and He delivered. He promised me that His Love would drive out all fear, and again, He delivered.

That's the thing with trust. It gets easier. Every time you choose to trust someone and they keep their promises, it becomes easier to trust them again.

So, even though it's probably still going to take a conscious decision every time God asks me to trust Him, trusting Him with this and seeing His promises fulfilled will hopefully make the decision easier. I know what it's like to live with and without the stability that comes from trusting Him. And I can't do without that security.

I challenge you to trust Him. No matter what is going on in your life, give Him control. It'll be hard at first, but eventually, you'll get to the point where it's too hard not to. I promise. He'll remain faithful. His faithfulness will be worth it in the end.

"I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord." - Hosea 2:20

Trust In Love

Has there even been a time in your life when it was hard to trust someone? I don't mean that you couldn't trust him because he had failed you before. I mean you knew full well that you could trust him. You wanted to trust him. But it hurt to make the decision to do so.

I've been there with God recently. A lot.

A lot of situations this past year, especially in preparation for and during this summer have required a lot of trust. I've had to give God control of a lot of things - from finances to friendships to travel. I've had to face fears. I've had to face changes. And I'm still facing changes - some of which I'm looking forward to, others of which I am still trying to figure out how I'll handle.

In Proverbs, we are told to trust in the Lord with our whole hearts. I don't know about you, but there are certain parts of my heart that it's hard to trust God with.

And this from someone who is inclined to trust. A lot of people will make you earn their trust. I tend to be the opposite. I tend to give you trust until you prove that you shouldn't have it. And yet, God has had to earn my trust over the years.

But it's still more than that. Even with as many times as He's proved that He is trustworthy, most of the time, it's still a struggle for me to trust Him in each new situation.

Changing directions for a bit... Who do you trust most? Is it someone you met on the street last week? Maybe you could give their name if you thought hard about it. Or is it your best friend? You could share the smallest, most obscure detail about their lives. Without even trying you can answer any question the way they would.

Even with my inclination to trust people, I'm more likely to trust my closest friends than some stranger. Not only have they proved that they deserve the trust I've given them, I know they Love me. Not only have they proved that they won't intentionally hurt me, I know they'll do whatever is in my best interest.

Like I said before, I've been having to trust God with a lot recently. And it's stuff I really care about. So it hurts. It's been easier in the past when I know that what I want isn't going to happen. But for once, I can see how the things I want could actually happen. And I can't see how it would hurt. But God is still asking me to trust Him with the situation.

He's not saying it won't happen, but He is saying to let Him take care of it - to let Him be in charge of if it happens and if it does, when. It's hard knowing that I'm trusting Him with the process as well as the end result.

At the same time, it's easier than it's ever been. I've spent the past two years learning more about God and what pleases Him and growing closer to Him. I've spent the summer falling absolutely in love with Him. Because of all that, I understand how much He Loves me. I know He won't hurt me. I know He'll do what's in my best interest. I know it in my heart and not just my head. And that's what's new.

It's like some of my best friends. I'd trust them with my life. Then in some situations, I'm not so sure how their plan makes any sense, so it's hard to trust them in that specific situation. That's where I am with God. I trust Him with my life, but His plan isn't making a lot of sense right now. So it's hard to trust Him.

But here's the thing. More than His plan doesn't make sense, I know it's the best. I know He Loves me and will provide the best for me no matter what. I have experienced it. And so I'm learning. I'm learning the truth behind 1 John 4:18.

Because my words can't begin to explain the goodness of His Love and the ease of trusting Him that it brings, I'll leave you with His. I hope you can come to your own understanding of it.

"Such Love has no fear, because perfect Love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect Love." - 1 John 4:18

I Want More

This post is going to be completely different. I don't tell a story. I don't come up with an analogy to explain what God is teaching me. In fact, I don't even explain what God is teaching me. I just share it. In this post, you're getting an inside look into my journal (with a few minor spelling and grammar corrections). It's a letter I wrote to God, but it's what He was speaking to my heart. (Funny how He reveals His Love for you while you're expressing your Love for Him.) Normally, I wouldn't share this directly, but I believe God wants me to. I believe it's something that others need to hear and know that He feels the same way about them. Because of that, I'm sharing. I hope it helps you and gives you an idea of how much you are Loved by the King.

Dear God,
I love it when You call me precious. I do not know what it is. Maybe it is the tenderness in Your voice. Maybe it is the intentionality of the choice in words. Maybe it is knowing that Yours is a voice of Truth.


No matter. When You call me precious, I feel so much Love. It flows over every part of me, covering my whole being. It seeps into my heart. It warms the innermost part of me. I know I am experiencing a taste of the truest Love in the world.


I cannot help but want more. The slightest taste of Your Love makes my heart yearn for more. It creates a hunger. It stirs a longing only You can fill.


To think, You always feel that way about me. You always desire my Love. Your heart never stops yearning for me.


Nothing makes You forget the last time I showed You Love. Nothing takes away that feeling. You know it is my Love you desire. You never try to fill it with someone else. You know it would be a useless endeavor.


And so You pursue me. You pursue my Love. You seek until You find. You ask until You receive. You knock until You are welcomed in.


You want me to do the same. You want me to desperately seek more of You. You want me to give my heart completely to You. You want me to RUN to let You in. RUN. With no hesitation. RUN. In real pursuit of You. You want me to RUN.


God, I want to. I want to chase after You. I want to give everything in pursuit of You. I want to Love You with reckless abandonement. Every day.


I Love you.


Yours forever,
Nicole E. Jones