When I struggle at writing a new post, I lay it aside. A thought simmering, yet the words to convey, wrestle within my soul. I never want to write to just write. I desire for my writings to come from my heart and not my “mind”! This post was one I laid aside this week and now I know why.
When I was seven, it was discovered that I was completely deaf in my left ear. It was the next year, age eight, that I accepted Jesus as my Savior. It wasn’t long, after sitting under Pastor Chitwood’s preaching that I heard sermons about the Second Coming of Jesus. In the 60’s and 70’s, Jesus return was preached with such enthusiasm and expectation, that one just knew Jesus was coming any moment. We would hear the trumpet sound, be changed and up to Heaven we would go. I was okay with this as long as His Coming came during the day. If His return would happen during the night, I struggled. Why? I was a little girl, completely deaf in my left ear and, I did not understand that it was with spiritual “ears” I would hear that trumpet. Each night, before I would go to sleep, I would remind Jesus that if he chose to return, would he please make sure I was sleeping on my bad ear so that my good ear would hear the trumpet. This soon became a fear that took root in my heart and for many years I struggled with Jesus coming back and leaving me behind. One morning, while reading scripture, Jesus, my sweet Jesus, his presence so real, his voice so audible, he simply asked, “Donna, when are you going to trust me? My love for you is unwavering. I am your constant and true sustainer! I will never leave you, nor will I leave you behind. I AM!” It was at that very moment, I released that griping fear, to HIM, that, at times, had paralyzed my heart. I WAS FREE! His love engulfing my heart.
Why did this writing need today to finish? Rayburn and I had the sweet privilege to attend a wedding. Yes love was in the air, but this wedding was different. It was Jesus’ love that flowed from the songs, with words like, “Nobody loves me like you love me Jesus” and “I’m still in your hands, great is your faithfulness. This is my confidence, YOU HAVE NEVER FAILED ME YET.” Jesus’ love flowed from the challenge given by Brooks’ sister, Ashley and her husband, Jason. Jesus’ love permeated the wedding ceremony. A sweet reminder to me, that JESUS IS CONSTANT and TRUE. JESUS IS FAITHFUL and it is because of HIS EVERLASTING LOVE, I can trust him. It is because of HIS LOVE, a love given by HIS DEATH on the cross and victory over the grave. A love longing for us to spend all eternity with him. A love, that one day, whether alive or asleep in the grave, we will hear the trumpet sound, we will be changed and we will meet him in the air. Love, perfect love, will be in the air and I will be there, EXPERIENCING that love AND WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!
Do you have a fear that you have allowed Satan to USE against you? I did. For many years, I allowed this fear to ROB ME OF THE JOY OF MY SALVATION. Satan was winning, UNTIL one day, Jesus had a special appointment with me. The chains around my heart were broken, and my heart was free. GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!
