"And without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists
and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Obedience never comes easy. And at times, it is accompanied by an immense pain because more often than not, we let go of something before we let God. As painful as it is, when we DO obey, God rewards us for that. There are times that we do not absolutely comprehend what could come out of something so painful but I have been so blessed to have met new friends over the course of the past month.
I had a dilemma a few months back because I was troubled because I was attracted to someone and I couldn't think about anything or anyone else other than her. It became such a distraction for me that I went through so much pain and I cried a lot of tears just asking God if He could will it for me to pursue her. But God declined. It was so clear to me that it was not yet time for me to handle such things. And at one timely evening, I cried out to God, finally bringing "her" to the altar. That night, I totally surrendered her to God. And it hurt because it meant that if God wills that we never be together, then I have to surrender to that fact.
More than anything, God is faithful. He quickly turned my mourning in dancing and He gave me new friends to help me realize that if he asks you to lay down something, it is because He wants to bless you in ways you can only imagine. We just have to trust in His sovereign plan. Because I chose Him, He blessed me with the people you now see below. I have been blessed to have known you all and am excited to get to know each and every one of you more.
Whoever said God doesn't reward obedience? These people who I now call friends are more than rewards. They are literally blessings and tangible reminders to our souls that God is real and that He forever blesses those who seek and obey Him. It may come in some other form or another but ultimately, God will always be there to bless you beyond your imagination if we simply let Him.
