God speaks.

The sovereignty, endless love, and perfect plan of the God we serve is so incomprehensible by our human hearts, but in His grace, God reveals His character to us in new ways in moments we least expect.

I'm aware of moments and memories that God revealed some of His heart to me, moments in which it was often least expected. 

I remember working on a news summary for my junior high English class, a weekly assignment with which I was familiar. As I flipped through the pages of the God's World News leaflet, searching for an article about which to write, I stumbled upon a story about the persecuted Church in a third world country. My eleven-year-old heart was burdened for this family, this nation, these brothers and sisters in Christ, who were living across the world from me but served the same Savior.

I remember asking my mom where I could read more stories like this, why such injustice was in this world, and what I could do about it from my chair in our cozy little school-room, thousands of miles from this family. She gave my more articles, told me more stories, and I searched. I read of hurt and injustice, starvation and sickness, oppression and death, persecution and abuse of children... and I hurt.

This weekly news summary assignment was required to be half a page on college ruled notebook paper (single spaced). I can't tell you why I remember the specifics of that weekly assignment, but I also remember that the news summary I wrote that week totaled four single spaced pages. I wrote of these horrible injustices about which I had just read, the horrible juxtaposition of corrupt leaders and poor, starving people over which they oppressed. My little eleven-year-old hands despised handwriting and penmanship exercises, but I remember that day, writing had never flowed so freely. The cry in my heart for justice was expressed on those pages as well as I could state it. I longed to do something. 

Little did I realize that the Living God revealed this little piece of Himself to my young heart. I'm convicted this week that in seasons of discouragement, moments of uncertainty, and times of trial, I must seek the heart of God. The same God who revealed His heart to me that day, is guiding me every moment. I'm reminded that just in that moment when I had no recognition of this piece of God's heart that He had so graciously begun to show me, there are so many moments here and now where God is working and teaching and guiding that we don't even think of or recognize.

I'm thankful that even when God speaks hard things, He gives us strength. When He reveals part of Himself, He gives grace. When we submit our desires to Christ, He gives joy. When we walk in humility and obedience, He gives peace.

These seasons of discouragement, moments of uncertainty, and times of trial feel overwhelming at times. I'm reminded that God is overwhelmingly perfect, working His plan in those moments of pain and stress. My heart and flesh fail me, but praise God that He is still the strength of my heart, giving me grace to conform more to Himself in those trials.