Skip to main content

Jehovah Shammah

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." Isaiah 12:6


Its December again!!! The year is coming to an end and I'm meant to write about stock taking, counting my blessings for all the things that have happened this year. I started that post somewhere in my mind, but as I sit here, I can help but think about what I've lost this year. I'm grateful for all the good things that have come my way, but 2012 is a year i'm glad will soon end. I'm not despairing, I'll just heave a huge sigh of relief when this year is over. It doesn't mean that troubles won't come again, or that there won't be losses; it just means that 2012 is over and I survived it!
This morning, I am reminded of a name I loved so much as a little girl 'Jehovah Shammah' - [The Lord is with us]. Found in Ezekiel 35:10, it means 'The Lord was there'. I think this is my testimony of 2012. I've come through some pretty rough patches this year. Lost loved ones, friendships, some hopes were dashed, expectations were unfilled, joys lost, joys regained, dreams fulfilled, new friendships forged, (traveled to some interesting places), repentance ... its been one interesting year! As it draws to a close, all I can truly say is 'The Lord was there'. In my highs and my lows, in the most depressing parts of the year, in the months where I experienced extreme sorrow, on the days when I couldn't answer the question 'why Lord? why now?' on the days when I got really crazy, on the days when I despaired ... The Lord was there.
The Lord was there, very present, though I choose not to acknowledge Him. The Lord was there, working in the background, laying plans and nudging me silently in the right paths. The Lord was there, providing comfort, calling me back from slippery paths and offering solace in dark days. The Lord was there!
I don't know what you are going through as you read this post, but the same truth applies to your situation. The Lord is there! It doesn't matter whether its a dark dreary night or its a bright 'sunshiny' day. The Lord is there! and He's working in your situation and working things out for you. I am reminded of Jeremiah's words at a dark point in the history of the children of Israel:
'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11'
The Lord is there, and in this, we are comforted! This is a promise, this I will hold on to in the coming years, 'The Lord is There'. And it doesn't matter what the future holds, I'll face it with the strength drawn from God presence and the knowledge that He is with me always."And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE." Ezekiel 48:35.

Labels

Labels:
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taking Stock

"And blessed  is  she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." Luke 1:45 (KJV) "Now therefore, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever and do as You have spoken," 2 Samuel 7:25 (NASB) Has the Lord given you a word?  Has it been fulfilled?  Hold on to His word in faith until it is fulfilled.  Give Him praise for fulling his word in your life. Be thankful and bless his name until you see it come to pass.  Mary heard the angel speak to her and he informed her of things to come. She believed, and there was a performance of the words that were spoken. David heard the words of God spoken to him through God's prophet and revealed to him by prophecy. He believed and prayed for its fulfillment.  Many times we receive a word from God, through revelation or through prophecy. What do we do with these words? Let's hold on t...
4 comments
Read more

Song Alert: Kind - Amanda Cook

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11) "The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness." (Psalm 145:8) NASB "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." (Psalm 103:8) "Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;" (Exodus 34:6) I've been thinking for a few years about doing blog posts on songs that I'm listening to at a particular time; songs that have ministered to me in a particular season and helped me walk through some though times - but it's just been a thought.  Today, I decided to start that first blog post on these songs. For lack of creativity or bursting ingenuity, I'll call these posts 'Song Alert'. So to...
2 comments
Read more

One day at a time

I'm learning to live one day at a time. I once read a book that talked about living in 'day tight compartments'. Somehow, that phrase has been stuck in my mind. And for a good reason too. When I tend to worry and fret about the future, I remember, 'Sufficient unto the day... Matthew 6:34 '.  Several things have motivated this conscious decision, the first reason was the need to end all the craziness of worrying about the future and learning to trust God for every little victory. I needed to understand that I have to live every moment and truly enjoy it. Notice I said 'live', better still LIVE! Not live in the future, when life is what I think it should be, but LIVE NOW! in the present, enjoy the journey, and even if I don't get to my Utopia, the most important thing is that I enjoyed the journey. And in the journey, I lived! (that doesn't sound like it makes much sense, but I think it does ... somehow :D). Second wake up call was a message by J...
1 comment
Read more