You Don't Have to Come, But You Always Do.

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H O S E A   6 : 3Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;His going out is sure as the dawn;He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earthGod's promise to us in this verse is that 'HE WILL COME.' He doesn't promise a problem-free life or a life without suffering. He doesn't say "as surely as the sun rises, life will be easy and you will never struggle." He solely promises us His presence, and that is so much more than enough.Not only does He COME, but He GOES before us (Deuteronomy 31:8). He has taken me on multiple adventures where I’ve gotten to experience this first-hand. Whether it was Africa, Bali, China, Guatemala or even New York City, if He sent me, He met me. Every time.A few months back, I found myself on a beautiful rooftop overlooking the city of Guangzhou, China. As I was standing there alone (with a big cup of hot milk tea in my hand), I had a “what am I doing here?” kind of moment. As I looked around at the thousands of apartment buildings, filled with millions of people, I felt more defeated than ever before. I knew the Lord wanted to use me in this nation, and I knew that He could. But in that exact moment, the why and the how just weren’t adding up.But of course He met me where I was at (like He always does) with the greatest moment of clarity. He told me to rest. He told me that He would use me regardless. He told me that I don’t need be to be anything other than who He has called me to be, and He told me He is the One working through me. I don’t have to figure out how He’s going to redeem all things because that’s His job. He’s been God a long time and He knows what He’s doing.It’s funny how this can be so engraved in my mind one day and the very next second, when I don’t see the end again, I’m back to where I started. I find it so easy to get caught up in the doubts. I wonder who, where, and if He really is who He says He is. But our God is so gracious and His mercies are new every morning. In my moments of doubt His truth shines through. No matter where I am, He has proven that He will always meet me there.words by Kirsten Larson and photo by Mandie Harper