In my last blog, I mentioned all the things that my family has been going through some hard times. Part of that includes a brain tumor and cancer treatment for my dad. Doctors had given him a time frame and sent him home to “get things in order” as he prepared to start treatment. Having already walked through all the initial feelings that those words entail with my youngest child, I found myself going back to all of God’s previous promises. Words, scriptures and promises that God gave me to help me process when my daughter was given an open-ended time frame. But those were promises for a different time, a different walk and a different miracle.

As I laid in bed last week, praying and thanking God for a victory I know we already have, He gave me a new vision with a new hope. I do whole heartedly believe that my dad is already healed. I happily proclaim that publicly. You may think that I am crazy or foolish to believe that, but I stand in faith believing that He is still the God of miracles and that it is already finished. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always take the fear or worry along with it. And as I prayed God comforted me in a new way with a new vision.

Moses leading the Israelites through the Red Sea. Now typically when we think of this story in the Bible, we think of Moses holding the staff in front of the waters while it parts with two massive walls of water. We think of the Egyptians closing in behind them, eager to destroy them. But how often do we think of the Israelites themselves? God asked me in the quiet stillness of my room that night, do you not think they were afraid walking through the sea? I thought how it would feel to walk on a muddy sea floor with massive walls of water towering above me with nothing holding it back. How I would probably be distracted from the awe and wonder of it by the fear that those walls would come crashing down and wash me away.

It’s okay to be intimidated or fearful. But we must keep walking. The Israelites kept putting one foot in front of the other until they reached the other side of the miracle. Their feet were once again put on dry land where they could turn to look back with wide eyes in wonder at what God had just done for them. But it wasn’t over yet. You see, the Egyptians were still following. They charged into the Red Sea, eager to use God’s miracle for their own evil desires. But that miracle was not meant for them. Death would not touch His people.

I cling to the promise of this revelation. It is okay to walk in fear, but we must keep walking. It is a choice every day to put one foot in front of the other and with each step a new assurance that God is keeping the water at bay. Every step bringing more hope and conviction for the next. Our faith increasing knowing that we are walking through a miracle. And once we reach the other side, we will turn back with our feet on dry land and watch Him wash away the enemy that was chasing us.

No matter what version of the Red Sea you are walking through, remember that it is okay to be worried but also that you must keep walking. Know that you are amid a miracle and that God will keep the water from crashing down on you. But you must keep walking! I walk in faith knowing that when my family reaches the other side of this Red Sea moment, that we will turn to see Him wash death away! That victory is on the other side of this miracle, but we must keep walking to get there. This is a faith walk.

Life sucks. Let’s just be really honest here. It sucks. And I don’t mean in the sense of the world is exploding in 2020. I mean on a very personal and very real level, it sucks. We found out my husband is deploying, I’ve developed issues with food and am not really able to eat, I was furloughed from my job, my parents cabin flooded with water, my dad had emergency brain surgery that is now being followed up my chemo and radiation. And all this was in a matter of a couple months. So yes, life sucks.

But God has been telling me to look for the beautiful moments in-between all the heart break and frustration and sickness. Beautiful moments like Shannon getting the message about my dad and within minutes she’s on her way to my house. Beautiful moments like Bethany saying she’ll hop on a plane the next day to be here. Beautiful moments like Katie who is going through her own trial and heart break texting me to say she’s praying for me and my family. Moments like Kate asking if she can bring a meal over. Moments like Hannah who reaches out to all of my BSF ladies to schedule meals for my children while my husband was gone. Moments like  Kendall who shares what God showed her while praying for my dad and it blesses him. Moments like Sarah who sends me a song and a word that encourages me.  Moments like Ginger who orders flowers to be sent to my mom for her birthday. Moments like Jen telling me she was minutes away from my house to take my kids for me to have a break. Moments like Holly offering to go to the store and drop things off at my house if I need them. Moments like Jen, Lauren and Holly taking me out and letting me cry in the middle of the restaurant and making me feel like it’s perfectly okay and normal.

Moments like my 8 year old son who stepped up as the man of the house when my husband was gone and took care of his mom in a way that was far beyond his years. Moments like my husband coming in to pray over me and then to pray over our children. Moments like when my parents got on a call with my brother and I to give us the news and rather than break down, we prayed together as a family. Moments like the countless men and women who have gathered around my parents to pray over and for them. There are so many other incredible and beautiful moments that I could list, but this post would go on forever if I did.

My mom has been saying the word “perspective” over and over again this year and when I think about what God is doing right now, I hear that word too. It is about my perspective. If I focused solely on the things that are crumbling around me, I would certainly crumble too. But if I change my perspective on the things around me and focus on the beautiful things, they far out number the bad! It’s almost not even a fair comparison. The first paragraph of this blog is far shorter than the second and third and I didn’t even list everything out.

I know that each and every one of us has our own trials in the midst of this trying year, but I encourage and challenge each and every single one of us to change our perspectives. Don’t look at the things that are negative. Look for the beauty, because I assure you that it is there! I have hope and joy for tomorrow, because I know that there will be at least one small moment where He will show me that He is still with me. So while yes, life sucks, it’s beyond beautiful too!

Psalm 34:8

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”