I just recently returned home from a family trip to Vail Colorado. For me, the trip was a desperately needed getaway from reality, because reality had me drowning. I was overwhelmed, life had been screaming at me, and it was time to silence it for a brief moment. So we went. And boy oh boy was my spirit transformed in the presence of some of God's most beautiful work in those mountains. I've traveled to the Rockies a thousand times, but never had I experienced them in this way before. For once in my life I really saw the beauty of it all and took in every last ounce of that crisp air, as if I'd never have another chance to breath it in. This time, the views had me in awe, in tears even, at how magnificent our God is. For seven days in that beautiful place, I was still. Of course, we were busy going out and hiking and shopping and laughing and enjoying ourselves, but my world was still and my God was present everywhere.
I started every morning on the back deck of my grandparents' home, a place I'd come almost every summer growing up. Every morning I would sit there and be in God's word, sometimes I would just pray, sometimes I would gaze out upon the mountains in complete silence for what felt like hours. (Almost) every night I went for a run as the sun went down in the valley. Mornings and nights were my favorite part of everyday because I felt the closest to God as he painted pictures for me in the sky. Before the trip I had been in a tug-of-war with God. I wanted something, but it seemed like he would keep taking things away. Or, I needed him to just tell me the plan, but all I kept hearing was nothing. In those moments, those mornings and those nights, he began revealing things to my stubborn heart. I finally could feel him just saying, "Ashley, you just need to be still, look around at what I've created. I've got this." And friends, the greatest truth I could ever speak to you is that, he does have this.
Over the course of a week I counted six rainbows. Six rainbows. Not just wimpy, faint appearances of a rainbow... Full on neon, you could see the pot of gold at both ends, rainbows. That was my promise from God, that even in the loudest and most overwhelming times of life, he is there, he is working, he is good. In those moments, when the air could not be more refreshing, the sunsets could not be full of anymore splendor, and the mountains could not be painted anymore beautifully, my heart was at peace and my soul fully renewed in the stillness and presence of the Lord.
My point in sharing all of this is to say, take in those opportunities to see God in the quiet places and learn to just be still and simply listen. This world that we're a part of moves a million miles an hour. We spend more time obsessing over current issues and being consumed by the deafening screams of life than we do just shutting it all out for a moment to have peace. So go on an adventure, take a road trip, get on a plane, or walk out in your back yard, lie on the ground and look up at the sky -- Just. Be. Still. God has great big plans and he can do great big things, just look at what he's capable of and tell me he doesn't have huge intentions for your life. I needed some reminding of his promises, and he showed them to me in the most spectacular of ways. Take some time this week to slow down for a moment and enjoy his beautiful promises.
"I look up to the mountains, does my strength come from the mountains? No. My strength comes from God, who made Heaven and Earth, and the mountains." -For King & Country
{forever grateful, Ashley}
No comments:
Post a Comment