A Dependence Like None Other

I met one of my precious friends at Starbucks the other day during my lunch break. And p.s., thank you Morgan for the suggestion to try the lunch at Starbucks because while it was rather expensive, the turkey and swiss sandwich was very fresh and yummy!

I am always so encouraged from getting together with this friend. I can't really explain it but put simply, the conversation is
so transparent,
so pure, and
so uplifting.

I'm always so excited to meet and so encouraged when I leave. Her and her husband are newlyweds and depending on the Lord's provision in every area, I mean EVERY area of their life. They don't know where their next paycheck will come from and they don't have a lot of the luxuries you and I have right now (even though sadly most of us don't even view these as luxuries). But they are passionate about what they are doing. They are walking down the path God is leading them on and while it's fun, it's also really hard. They literally have to wake up every day and pray together and trust God together for how he's going to provide that day.

Of course I trust the Lord with my life. Of course I know he is my Provider. Of course I am in relationship with him. Of course I spend time in intimate prayer.

But do I find myself leaning on him like that??

Being completely honest...No...at least not right now. I'm not in a "hard time" right now and while I talk to Jesus and hand over my life to him on a daily basis, I don't have to cry out to him with tear-filled eyes declaring his promise that he will provide and take care of me today, that things will be ok. I know things can change in a moment, but for now, I know when my next paycheck is coming and how much it will be. I don't worry about going out to eat at lunch or dinner. That's just not what my life looks like right now.

Is it strange to want that though? Because I do.

And that's a scary thing to want. But it's not the hard time I want, it's the intimacy with the Lord I want. I've been through hard seasons in my life and there is absolutely nothing like crying out to God with all you have and NEEDING him like you've never needed him before. I told my friend that her and her husband are getting something that the average marriage isn't - time together on a daily basis praying and crying out to God. That's huge. It sets a foundation they will have for the rest of their lives. It's intimate. It's an amazing blessing.

I want that intimate dependence on God too.

Those beautiful moments where you feel so close to him.

Most of the time though I find that you reach that closeness when you are going through hard times. Whatever those hard times are in your life right now, I encourage you to focus on the blessing of intimacy you get to have with Jesus. Because you won't be in that tough time for long. And you will get to know your Jesus better than you ever have before. Coming from a girl that isn't going through anything incredibly tough right now, I miss it. I miss that intimacy and that closeness that I think you experience through those tough times.

Psalm 34:18

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."