My daughter’s car accident her senior year.
The mono she dealt with just weeks before.
My son’s eye injury.
The death of my father.
Then of my mother.
Finding my friend unconscious, who days later died of a brain aneurysm.
The phone call from my daughter who was in the midst of a real-life nightmare an hour and a half away.
Each of these took me to my knees.
I pause to reflect on each one, and the feelings of helplessness come rushing right back. If I stay on one too long, my body clenches and the shivers begin.
These were beyond what I could handle. They were beyond what I ever expected.
I cried out in ways that were unfamiliar to me. After all, someone who’s independent, head-strong, and self-reliant is used to handling things on her own. Me, ask for help? No way.
But on my knees, that’s the only thing I could do.
“God, I can’t do this!!”
“I’m not strong enough for this!!”
“I need you!!”
I need you.
Three small, impactful words that transformed my heart, and broke my self-reliance. I needed God, no doubt about it, and He was right there just waiting for me to call out.
I could have never walked through any of these experiences on my own. I wouldn’t have made it. God showed up in ways I couldn’t have predicted…
Healing my daughter. Only a couple scars remain.
Others lifting us in prayer.
A life-infusing conversation with a friend over coffee.
Healing my son’s eye to be able to see again.
Comforting me through His Word.
Protecting my daughter through the nightmare.
Allowing me to see His provision, time and time again.
He showed me He was with me, and He would never leave me.
And you know? He’s not going to leave you either.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5
He’s not only with us in the bigger-than-what-we-can-handle moments, He’s with us in the seemingly insignificant day-to-day ones as well.
He’s with us.
I don’t know what you’re walking through today, but God does. It may be the toughest day of your life. Maybe all you can see is darkness and gloom. Maybe it’s a scary, or hurtful, or traumatic real-life nightmare. Or, maybe you just need to be reminded you are loved.
Friend, call out to Him today. Say those three small, impactful words.
“I need you.”
And watch your Creator, your God, your Heavenly Father, show Himself in ways unlike ever before.
Take four minutes out of your day to watch, listen and be encouraged by this from Plumb…
Bless you!
Julie
What joy it is to link up with Suzie for #livefreeThursday on the prompt: I Need You. Spend a few minutes over there. Your heart will be touched!
(A big thank you to Jane Sagers for allowing me to use this breathtaking photo!)
Julie, oh I’m so glad we have Him to turn to in our trials – thanks for an incredibly touching post today. You are truly writing #wordsthatmovepeople. And I love that Plumb song!!!! Have a wonderful day, sweet sister! Kim
I’m thankful I’ve met you through our blogs and this community of writers through COMPEL. What a joy it is to walk through life together. I pray we can meet some day in person. Thanks for your encouragement, friend!
Oh, how we need Him! All the time…every day! I wish I would always remember this–especially on the everything’s-going-fine days. It’s easy to remember when life gets hard–just as you’ve so beautifully described. Thank you for this message and reminder, Julie. You are always an inspiration. Love you!!!!
Sabra, I love you too. Thank you for always pointing to Jesus. You’re such a gift in my life!
Julie, this is a sermon preached in just a few powerful words. I love it! You added depth and hope to today’s #livefreeThursday conversation. <3
Thank you, Suzie. I am cherishing this #livefreeThursday community. Thank you for hosting it each week. You’re a blessing in my life!
I spent a huge part of the past year on my knees in prayer in WAY to many hospital waiting rooms. I can relate to the feelings of utter helplessness. Then the wave of comfort that washed over me when I cried out to God. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and being so open about it. LOVE this Plumb song. Cry almost every time I hear it.
What a story you much have, Laura. The wave of comfort sounds so familiar. Thank you for sharing here. And yes, I love that song too!
Love your heart here, Julie, and I love that song! Your post reminds me of a lie that somehow got started in the church, “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Wrong! If you think about it, life is always more than we can handle without the help of the Spirit in us. So thankful for your shining your Light of truth, my friend. #WriteOn
Thank you, friend. It’s a joy to walk through this life with you. This more-than-we-can-handle life. Thankful we have God to always be with us and guide us! So glad you stopped by.
I’ve been there, on the other end of the “I need you” prayer, as someone who was dying at one point… and as others lifted up the only desperate cry they knew how to lift, His miracle provision stepped in.
He is our very capable God!!! So encouraged by your post today, Julie… Love the powerful testimony you have in Him!
Stay blessed this weekend, glad I visited again from #livefreeThursday 🙂
Thank you, Christine. I love how He steps in right at the perfect time… His timing. You must have a powerful story. I need to read more. So glad we’ve “met!” Blessings, friend!
Thanks, Julie. I often forget to call out to Him on those monotonous days- the ones where I seem to overload my schedule with ‘busy.’ But, when I remember He is there at those times too, I sense His peace and comfort.
I’m with you, Kristine. May we remind each other to call out to Him daily. So glad you stopped in. Thank you!
Julie,
This is my first time stopping by your site and what a blessing it has been. That.was. Simply. BEAUTIFUL! Beautiful words, beautiful truth, beautifully written!
“He showed me He was with me, and He would never leave me.”
And we often see that when we are neck-deep in trials!
Following you on Twitter and sharing this!
Hi Christy! Thank you so much for your kind words. Bless you! Thank you for following and for sharing. I enjoy getting to know each other through our blogs. I need to stop by to visit you, as well. May God bless you and your week!