“O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.” Hosea 14:8 NLT

There is a deep and abiding wisdom that resides in the Person of Jesus Christ. All of creation vibrates with the knowledge that a Living God spoke, and the universe came into being. There is no time outside of His gaze. There are no secrets hidden from His knowing. There are no places where we can run from His deep and crazy love for us.

He is at once everywhere, and in everything. It is in Jesus that we all live, and move, and have our being. He is our source of all things we need. The fruit of His Holy Spirit all the equipment we need to live a happy and peaceful life. The power gifts of that same Spirit all the weapons we need to bring His light and life to the darkest places in this fallen world.

From the beginning, He longed to be our source. Our only source. He cried out from the first for us not to look to another for our help. (Which brings the slavery of idolatry) Or to ourselves, (Which brings the deception of human pride, leading to fear and despair). He is the Source of all hope, all that is right and good, all wisdom. He is the Fountain that does not run dry, not even in the driest season, or the loneliest wilderness.

He is the Promise Keeper. The One who does not abandon. Whose answer is not slow as some suppose, but timed to bring the greatest benefit to those who wait in expectant hope. The book of Jeremiah tells us that His eyes travel throughout the entire earth, searching for those whose hearts are completely His, to show Himself strong on their behalf. Wow. What kind of a God is this?

In this season of divine delays I have become even more sensitive to His leading and guidance. I have experienced His uplifting power when my strength was all but dry. I have ‘heard’ Him whisper His promise to me, ‘Debbie, I am going to take SUCH good care of you.’

We are blessed in our trials the Word of God says. For it is in the testing times that we can reach out and access the greater things, the deeper things. His promises, far from being empty, become meaningful and life giving.

His Word, living and active, becomes alive to us, afresh and anew. He is the ultimate Promise Keeper.

Let us lean in and receive, fresh and new, all He is longing to pour into us.

~ Debbie Ecker