Praying for Tali this morning...

Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.

Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.

You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,

so mere people can no longer terrify them.

~Psalm 10:17&18

No Matter What

Psalm 34:1-10

1 I will extol the LORD at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2 My soul will boast in the LORD;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Couldn't resist posting this this morning. Oh taste and see that the Lord is GOOD.

He is. No matter what.

Hoping, Waiting, Aching...

I will wait for you... with you. Believe that the longing of your heart is to rescue her. Believe that your heart is for her and your plans for her are GOOD.

Your plans for her are full of hope.

To prosper her and not to harm her.

You promised. In your heart, she is Talika Hope. In our hearts too.

What else can we do but wait? Wait, and not allow our hopes for her to die. It is tempting.... tempting to close our hearts, a lot, or just a little. Tempting to let go of hope...because hope is painful when it comes to matters like these. But hope is also sweet. Hope draws us, propels us, into the secret place. The place where we hear you, encounter your heart, learn to lean and trust and cry into your chest.

The ache of hopeful waiting draws us into you, and we share a little bit in the fellowship of your suffering.

Oh Father, let me steward this gift well. Help me, God. I'm afraid of my own desire for comfort. Waiting in hope is not comfortable. Sometimes the ache seems unbearable. In those moments, I am learning to press in close to your heart... learning to draw strength, peace, and joy from my Source, even as I hold this ache in my heart.

I can have these things in tandem.

The ache, and the joy.

The deep longing, and the deep peace.

The crying out, and the silent trusting.

The waiting, and being fully present in this moment.

The tears, and the laughter.

They are all from you. They are all gifts.

They are not mutually exclusive.

I am learning to live fully alive, freely, full of joy and peace. I am learning to live while carrying this ache. Teach me Father.

I trust in your heart, your perfect plans, your sovereignty. I trust in your power and desire to move mountains on her behalf. I press in deeper. Trust you ruthlessly, relentlessly, agonizingly. How long, O Lord?!

I wait in hope for you.....