Thoughts for 2013: God Does Not Waste, He Redeems

Last year, I chose a phrase, to be my heart's cry for the year.

"For His Glory, and Our Good" 

And throughout the year, when things got crazy, or uncertain, or awesome and amazing, God would quietly whisper that into my heart.

God has done and shown me a lot in 2012. He challenged me to remember his faithfulness and steadfastness, and in turn, let those things my heart's desire as well. To be faithful and steadfast to Him. So often I failed at that.

And yet, over and over he reminded me, "be faithful".
(Such as the day the rainbow lasted for three hours. A sweet friend texted me these words "guess God wants to be super sure you remember his promises are for YOU" it was a much needed, and much encouraging reminder)
 

These last few weeks, my heart has pondered what being faithful means.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." 

Hebrews 11:1

And in this, I have found two categories.

Assurance in hope. (For our heart)
Certainty in the unseen. (For our mind)

We can have faith in God's promises.
And we can trust that God truly is who He says.

And this year my heart is reaching toward a new focus:

Redeem.

Redeemed.

Redeeming.

Redemption. 

God is GOOD. 

His Son is Good.

And has paid our price, with his life, death, and resurrection, He has redeemed us from the pit.

And will use all of our hurts, and aches, joys, sorrows, laughter, and tears for His Glory and Our Good.

He redeems what appears lost and ruined, and through the blood of Christ, makes it whole, good, and pure. He uses the hard stuff. All of it.

God does not waste anything. Time. Tears. Or toil.

He is sovereign over everything, He makes good out of what was meant for evil.
He redeems it all.