Here.

Inspired by Romans 8:38-39

2021.

I had been feeling for about a week that I needed to get away and spend some time outdoors, somewhere. Therefore, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to take an almost-solo trip to La Crosse, WI. I hopped in my car and took off with my wonderful pup, Ruby, to get some much-needed alone time. La Crosse will always hold a special place in my heart - I have so many wonderful memories in La Crosse and it is the town where I fell in love with exploring outdoors and hiking, therefore it was the perfect place to be.

Let’s rewind some and take a look at a backstory, then I'll circle back. For a couple of years, I used to choose a word at the beginning of the year to “define” my year and for me to focus on throughout. It was typically an area where I wanted to see growth or an area where I wanted to see God work in. However, I completely forgot about my 2020 word until the word “Held” came to me in December of 2020, a word that described 2020 year for me. I decided to take the same "wait and see" approach in 2021, but I found myself struggling to find a word when it came to December of 2021 - how could I find one word to describe the year that contained the best days of my life, right along with some of the most challenging and heartbreaking days of my life? How could I find a word to encompass such a wonderful and difficult year at the same time?

Let's circle back now. When I got to La Crosse, I found myself searching the entire day. Initially, I had no idea what I was searching for. I went up to Grandad’s bluff and did some hiking in the park there, I climbed up to the Rim of the City to a beautiful overlook, I visited my favorite tree on the Marsh Trails in Myrick Park (yes, I do have a favorite tree), and I went down to Riverside Park. During my time living in La Crosse, all four of these locations were places I had frequently visited and I had connected to moments of great growth in my Christian faith. It was only when I was halfway through climbing up the bluff to the overlook that I realized I had been searching for God all day. I so desired to have an “encounter”, a great revelation, and I was searching for the presence of God in a physical place which had some type of meaning to me. Up until that moment, I didn’t even know I had been of the mindset that if I just went back to a place, to a moment in time, to a place where I had felt God moving in my heart before, maybe I would find God today. I was misled into thinking that I had to go somewhere to experience God.

What a lie, and a tempting one to believe at that.

Halfway up that bluff God, in an act of great grace and mercy, showed me the flaws in my heart posture. At that moment, God showed me that He was not only here at this moment, on the side of a bluff in La Crosse, but He has been with me throughout the entire day, week, month, and year.

Abbey, why are you looking for a God who is already here with you?”

The word of God is overflowing with so many reference of God's presence, not only in the people who are mentioned in the Bible, but in our lives as well. Romans 8:38-39 tells us that literally nothing in this world can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus tells the disciples that He is with them to the end of the age. In Psalm 23:4, David exclaims that we have nothing to fear, because even when we walk in the darkest places, He is with us and comforts us. Our true north, the Word of God within the Holy Bible, tells us over and over again that we do not have to live this life alone, but God is with us during every single moment.

“Abbey, why are you looking for a God who has been, currently is, and always will be here with you?”

*This is the God who was there to celebrate with me (and still celebrates with me) on some of the best days of my life. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Psalm 30:5)

*This is the God who was with me (and will always be with me) on some of the worst days of my life. (Matthew 5:4, Psalm 34:8)

*This is the God who carried me (and still carries me) through the dark seasons. (Psalm 46:1)

*This is the God who is comforted me (and still comforts me) during times when I am in need (2 Corinthians 1:3)

*This is the God who created me to be exactly how I am, and He continues to help mold me into who He created me to be. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 138)

*This is the God who has walked with (and continues to walk with) me throughout every season of my life. (Matthew 11:28-30)

*This is the God who will never leave me, never forget about me, and never fail me, even when I am tempted to believe otherwise. (Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 94:14)

I cannot say any of this without mentioning that all of this is made possible through His Son Jesus Christ, who He sent to shatter the barrier and allow us access to God. We were separated from God since the moment we first sinned against Him, but He made a way through Christ for us to be with Him, not only here on earth, but into eternity (John 3:16). I have been freed from all guilt and condemnation, and I can now be confident that I will stand before Him at the end of my life, holy and blameless. This wonderful truth was not without cost. He lived a perfect and sinless life, yet He willingly took on the punishment and wrath of God for all of my sins that day on the cross. Because of Jesus, God is ever-present in my life and I have an eternity to look forward to at home with Him. This same salvation awaits anyone who calls on His name and commits their life to following Him. So, so good.

Looking back at 2021, I am so unbelievably thankful that I have a God who is so many things, but at the root of it all, He is GOOD. Regardless of anything this life throws at me, my good God is here, and that is more than enough for today.

Here. My 2021 word.

***

Scripture References:

Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able o separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 28:19-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.