We made it through another week of this crazy time! Yay us! Wouldn’t it be great if it was more of a “gone away for vacation and when we come back things are still the same” kind of deal? I think life will never be anything like what it was before, for most of us.

So many people we know are going through such hard, dark times which is only heightened because of COVID-19. We had a family thing happen this week that is devastating. Let me tell you social distancing went out the window! Just try to keep this momma away (elbows out, I’m going in)!

Isaiah 45:3 has been rolling around in my heart the last few weeks. It says:

“And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.”

Can we just start with the last part? It makes me want to jump up and down! God sees each of us, He knows us by name and calls us. No matter where we are, geographically, emotionally or spiritually. His call is a loud, yelling call like when you turn around and your kid isn’t there.

We’re not alone! Even now, God, your Father, sees you and calls you.

God wants to give us the treasures He stored for us. When Isaiah wrote those words, common practice was to dig deep pits or chambers and put their treasure in them. It was hidden from everyone seeing it and gave protection of it. You had to be intentional to go get it.

Hidden there, in a secret place only you can find, is a treasure. Something so specific and special to you and your situation that you will carry it with you, and guard it.

We all have dark, pain-filled times in our lives. It’s in those times we can mine the most precious of treasures. There are certain things we can only learn, grow and know from the secret, dark places of pain, sorrow and suffering. It is there we find out something new about God. We will definitely find things out about ourselves.

I have treasures that I hold onto that I found in the deepest, darkest times in my life. Just a few are:

• I have the treasure of trust that I learned when Rene’ was sick for a year and no one knew why.

• I have the treasure of faith and sustaining grace from living with MS and Lupus.

• I have the treasure of acceptance and unconditional love from when I was so angry and struggled to understand why my mom died so young.

• I have the treasure of being accepted and valued by facing the darkness of not feeling good enough, when failure, fear and insecurity threatened to bury me.

God calls us and meets us because He wants us to know Him. To know His name and have a relationship with Him. There is nothing you can do or say that will make Him not love you and stop Him from calling your name. If you are going through a dark time and you are at the end of all you know to do, may I suggest calling out to God? The God who loves you and will meet you right where you’re at. He’s calling your name even now.

I am grateful, with all that is uncertain, I can know He is there and He will not change.

I hope you have a great week!

All My Love ~ Jodi xoxo

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