30DaysOfBibleLettering - Round 4 Sample

Remember the things I have done in the past.
Isaiah 46:9 NLT

Today, there is quite a thriving business on selling people “security.” Whether it’s financial security—in the form of insurance for your house, your car, your life—or physical security—endless commercials for home security systems. College students are paying thousands for classes and degrees offering job security. Security. We like it. The unknown element of life is frightening, and security makes us feel safe. There’s nothing wrong with taking out insurance on a house or car, of course. It comes in handy during disasters. The same can be said of student loans, as I would not have the skillset I have now without the money I spent on getting a degree. There’s nothing wrong with security.

Yet even with all the security we achieve, work for and buy, bad things still happen to our friends, our family and us. What God has been pressing on me to learn this year is to know and trust that He is faithful. It sounds simple. For those of us who grew up in the church, it’s instilled into us as children that all we have to do is “trust God.” But somewhere along the lines of growing up, getting jobs and being taught to take of ourselves, we have mistakenly placed faith in ourselves. We believe that it is all up to us to establish security; we put our faith and identity into the castles of careers we have built. Don’t misunderstand me, establishing security in our lives is important, but when did we falsely mistake our lives for our own?

Last year when my plan for a new job fell flat, I turned to God and asked, “This can’t be Your will for me, because if it was I would be more… happy.” I didn’t realize how self-centered that sounded until I voiced this to a friend who started chuckling and replied, “God’s job isn’t to make you happy.” I immediately thought he misunderstood me, but as I thought about it more I saw my error; I was planning how my life was going to happen and told Him how it was going to happen. God is not a cosmic vending machine. I made the mistake of placing my security in myself and my plans rather than in Christ.

“Remember the things I have done in the past.” Isaiah 46:9 calls us to remember. Remember all the times He has been faithful. Remember all the times He was there, even when we felt utterly alone and ignored. “For I alone am God. I am God and there is no one like me.” (v.10) Friends, once I told Him, “Here are my dreams and plans for the future. They’re Yours. Whatever You want me to do, I will do it, begrudgingly maybe, but I will do it.” He led me to opportunities and jobs I thought impossible. This year, He is calling me to put my security not in myself, but in Him. The verse goes on to say, “For I alone am God. I am God and there is no one like me.” He will not fail, friends. He did not bring you this far to let you drown. Remember His faithfulness.

by @evamwinters