The End Doesn’t Mean It’s Over

Do you know one of the things I absolutely LOVE about God? It’s that He uses simple things to confuse the wise. Think about it. He hid a “royal” on the back side of a desert long enough to develop a relationship with him, teach him how to be in tune with Him, and then send him back to the place that he ran from to become a delivere (Moses). Or better yet, He took a smelly little shepherd boy and anointed him to be a King instead of those who “looked” the part (David). Or how about the story where He set up a little Hebrew girl to save a nation by placing her in the palace as a Queen, all the while hiding her identity (Esther). Need I mention how He took a VIRGIN and borrowed  her womb long enough to transport our savior from Heaven to earth (Mary). Who must you be that He would trust you enough with His child(ren), allowing you to be the “hands on parent” in their lives?

My road to becoming a single mom involved me losing my home, closing my business and the man I loved no longer accepting my love. Not to mention that my children began to doubt God’s very existence while I tried to figure out how to get out of a Pastoral role without shaming God. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t even recognize myself. I thought my role as a wife defined who I was.

Just when I thought all hope was lost, God led me to a very familiar passage – Job 14:14a “If a man dies, shall he live again?” Growing up in a charismatic church I’ve heard this preached many times. Every time the preacher would conclude with the passage of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. However I want to share with you the understanding God revealed to me. When Job asked this question, he wasn’t talking about a physical death. Job lost everything, from his children, his riches, and his health. Furthermore, the relationships that remained were on thin ice. During the worst time in his life, when he lost everything.  He muttered this question, “Why?” Mentally, emotionally and even spiritually he felt defeated and that his life was over. Everything that identified him was gone. Have you ever felt like that? I have.

HOWEVER, in that same chapter, Job 14: 7-9NKJV he said “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease, though its roots may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground. Yet at the scent of water, it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.”

God used that verse to help me realize that no matter what: There is Hope. Why? Because Christ is the living water and all we have to do is seek out that water. It is the only way we can thrive. He began to teach me The End Doesn’t Mean it’s Over. We get so caught up in thinking that once something ends; that’s it. I dare you to change your perspective and realize that when one chapter of your life ends, there is another chapter that is about to begin! Look forward to it, know that your best is yet to come! You don’t believe me? Ask Job.  His end was greater than before.

So be encouraged and know that your story has not ended.