“There are times when I may not know exactly what God is doing, but I still have peace. This is because I’ve learned that even when I can’t see God’s hand, I can always rely on His heart.”
~Tourè Roberts
This quote is taken from “Purpose Awakening.” A book by Pastor Tourè Roberts. I finished reading this book, the first time, around the end of 2014. It was instrumental in my spiritual development. There are some parts, statements, and wordings that I struggle to fully accept, but the bulk of the book is AMAZING! Pastor Roberts really deals with the issues that effect the people of God. A lot of us deal with these surface issues that prevent us from really getting to root of salvation. These things prevent us from hearing the secrets of God. They prevent us from intimacy. I won’t give away too much of the book, but it will definitely help you in uncovering what you need to do to step your game up in your prayer and worship life so that you can get to the bottom of what Roberts calls “the epic idea” behind your creation.
There are plenty of quote worthy statements… but this quote in particular stands out to me. As a matter of fact, this quote in particular is what lead me to read this book a second time…. and I’m sure this wont be my last time reading it. This quote always reassures me that I’m not the only one who feels a little “off” sometimes when it comes to the things of God. I mean… sometimes I sit in my kitchen and just think, “God… where are you? What is happening? and What is gonna be the result of THIS?!” There are times when God’ll give me an answer of some sort… and there are times when I simply have to wait for it. Either way, this quote gives me a sigh of relief because I’m not the only one who doesn't always know. It’s a great feeling to know what God is up to… to kind of “call it” ahead of time. To be able to recognize what God is doing…. that’s great. It just doesn't always happen like that for me. Sometimes, I’m clueless… yet, I press on.
This quote inspires me… because Pastor Roberts tells how even when he doesn't know, he still has peace. Now, out of all of the times that I have felt lost and as if God was ignoring me, I can’t say that I’ve had peace. I’ve definitely had fear, worry, and doubt.. but peace? Not so much! To be at peace is a beautiful thing! No worries. No drama. No nothing! Just peace… knowing that everything will be OK one way or another. People would PAY big bucks to get what we have access to through Christ! Peace… some days in the midst of trial, all I can do is ask for peace and strength to make it. Peace in incredible!
The last thing I get from this quote is probably the biggest thing that keeps me going: God loves me. For some reason this fact pumps me up on a whole new level. I think about my baby brother and sister, Melvin and Monica. They are 6 and 4 years old. (Monnie (Monica) will be 5 next month!) Although they are not biologically related to me, I love those kids almost like they were my own children! There isn't much that I wouldn't do to make sure they are taken care of and have what they need and most of what they want. I try to spend as much time with them as possible. I try to be there because I love them. I try to help my parents provide different things for them because I love them. I think about that love and I realize that God loves me even more than that! Where I fall short in human error, He can NEVER make a mistake! Jeremiah 29:11 from The Message Bible says: “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
God desires for me to succeed. Say that very slowly: God desires for me to succeed. Now, even slower than THAT! Here we go: God desires for me to succeed. Good! Now take a deep breath!
He has it all planned out! He loves us! He’s always concerned about us! When I cry, He sees. When I hurt, He sees. When I’m heart broken, He sees! He sees it all and He has this plan! He has this “epic idea” and its all about us, individually! This inspires me because I know that God will never leave me… He says it too many times in The Bible. So if I call, He answers… it’s not always when or even how I like, but He answers. And the results are always for my good!
The thing is that we have to mature in so many ways before we reach the height of our purpose. It’s just necessary. It may suck, but it has to happen. You have to grow up, spiritually, to obtain the fullness of what God has planned for you… you just have to. But, knowing that we are loved. Knowing that we are kept. Knowing that God doesn't desire to hurt us-it says in right in Jeremiah 29:11. Knowing all of this, God’s heart has to be in the right place concerning whatever we are dealing with at the moment.
We have to trust Him. We have to trust that He really does have a plan. That He won’t let us suffer too long. That He’ll rescue us if things get “too real, too fast.” lol. You are in God’s heart. He loves you.. and He has good intentions for you. I’ve heard it said before “even when you can’t trace Him, you still have to trust Him!” When you can’t feel God, you have to rely on the fact that is revealed in Jeremiah 29:11. Rely on His heart.