STREAKS

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

ON THE PORCH

When our kiddos were in high school, and one would get grounded from their phone, they would give a trusted friend their login and password to Snapchat.  This way the friend could access their account and “keep their streaks going.”  I never really understood why streaks were so important to them, but they were.  They willingly handed off their password and privacy to someone else in exchange for their “streaks” to be unbroken.  First, they had to trust that friend with their private information.  Then they had to believe that person would follow through with their promise.  

Normally, pictures come before words when I write On the Porch.  I take pictures, think in pictures, and God speaks to me with pictures. 

As I thought about what picture I could put with these words, I remembered an app on my phone called “Streaks” which is made to measure progress and provide motivation.  I hadn’t looked at mine in months, and when I opened it, I winced to see Bible Study as one of the four items listed to “Complete.” 

Do I truly treat Bible Study and time with Jesus that way?  Is it like cold plunging, that I wipe my forehead and say, “Thank goodness that’s over for another day?” Do I view it as a to-do? 

If I am completely honest, sometimes I do.  Most mornings I am excited to see what God has waiting for me when I open my Bible and laptop.  Other mornings, though, either “I am not in the mood” or I feel like I don’t have the time to sit down that long.  “It’ll be there tomorrow…”  

That particular morning was one of those times.  I got up with a heavy, hurting heart.  I didn’t feel like I could afford to expose the deepest place in my soul to my Savior.  Only He could touch it, and if He did, it might cause more pain.  So, I covered my heart in protection, cold plunged, then got busy cleaning the kitchen to keep myself distracted from the pain.  

Then I got the text from a beautiful young lady I consider one of my own…

“TRYING TO HOLD ONTO GOD’S PEACE AND NOT STRESS.  BACK AT DAY 0 BUT IT’S A NEW WEEK SO NEW OPPORTUNITIES!”

Without thinking, I replied, “We don’t have a streak with God, we have a relationship.”

I was trying to encourage her, but instead, that little comment backfired and stomped all twenty of our toes.     

And after I replied so hastily, I felt like God said, “Sweetheart, it will hurt when I touch it, but you must give me access to heal it.  Keeping it protected from Me will only make it hurt worse.”

Along with this text, my beautiful girl sent a picture of a woman with the following script:

“Don’t say God is silent when your Bible is closed.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16

“We were made for God first, then for each other.” ~ Isaiah 43:7

“Don’t tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is.” ~ 1 Chronicles 29:11

“Love isn’t love when you leave God out.” ~ 1 John 4:16

“Your life should not stay the same when you live for God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

“God can turn your biggest headache into a beautiful testimony, keep trusting.” ~ Romans 8:28

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^**And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, whohave been called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

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I went to bed the previous night with a shattered heart, and the following jumped out at me from a page in the book I read to check out and fall asleep:

“I aim to say one thing straight off and be done with it.”

She winced.  She knew what was coming because she’d heard it all her life.  It was his answer for everything from a hangnail to slow business at his service station.  It had become her answer for everything as well.

“I don’t want to hear it.  All things do not work together for our good.  Two and a half weeks ago, my life split between BEFORE and AFTER…I don’t believe in Romans 8:28 anymore.”

“Doesn’t take away its truth.  You’re in a rough spot right now, but shake-ups remind us we are not in control.  We need ‘em, and by my calculations, you haven’t had on in a might long time.”

“This is more than a rough spot.”

“Then God must love you, darlin’.”

~ From Desert Gifts by Sally John

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His Word doesn’t change, and Romans 8:28 is as true today as it was the day it was penned. 

God showed up the next morning, even when I bypassed our spot and removed our time from my schedule.  He used this wonderful young lady I mentor and call my own to mentor me.   He refused to sit by while I hid my heart and hurt alone, gathering more wounds, and risking infection.

So, like my children when they got grounded, I handed God the login and password to the part of my soul I guarded so savagely.  I trusted Him to do what He said He would.  Life is so stinkin’ hard sometimes.  By removing my hands that were protecting the hidden, hurting places and giving God access to the pain.  I was then able to use them to crawl up into God’s lap, lay my head on His chest, and listen to His heartbeat.  He held me while I ugly cried. 

Then I was able to lift those freed-up hands in worship, to the Creator of the universe and the one who loves me, hurt, pain, wounds, scars, and all.

I granted God permission to take this storm and do what He chose to with it, after all, I have no real control anyway.  But I needed to settle that in my heart.  I still pray that He will move heaven and earth if necessary to make things turn out the way I’d like.  But if He doesn’t, I will still trust Him.  Whether I choose to believe His promise in Romans 8:28 or not, doesn’t change the fact that it is in God’s Word, therefore true.  I will not change my login or password.  I do not want a streak, I want a relationship.

LORD God, the hurt is still there, and it is still tender.  I know that You are faithful and do not break Your promises.  So, I ask that You heal the hurts, act in ways only You can, and move mountains in this situation.  Please make something beautiful from the battle scars and ashes.  But even if You don’t and You answer a different way than I desire, help me accept that and still trust that You are good, Your plan is better, and that You still have my best in mind.  I want to give You access to my login and password, every part of me, especially the hurting places only You can reach.  I know there will be days when I fumble and fail, thinking I know better.  Lift me up and remind me, LORD, that You and You ALONE are in control.  Only You can truly see the big picture. Amen

EVEN IF

*The quotes and image I sent my ladies that day were designed by @christdesigns_

*Book quote is from “Desert Gifts,” by Sally John