Streams Coming Together

The past several weeks have been very exciting and in a very real way a kind of upheaval of the status quo of my life. The upheaval has been real, but not in any way hurtful or destructive. God spoke to my heart almost one year ago about several things that I had been pestering Him about for almost 10 years. One day in July I was in prayer, feeling very tired and discouraged over the same issues I had been facing and concerned about for some time. Without going into the conversational tone of the encounter, there in the quiet I suddenly realized that the very things that had occupied my thoughts and prayers for so long were, in fact, already answered. They were a reality that I had been living with, but failed to recognize.  God in His gentle way reminded me to look around and see all the blessings and provisions that were mine.  I suddenly realized that, in spite of all the ups and downs of life that had been my experience for the past 10 years, I and my family were still intact. Although the path has been challenging and at times Gods' way of leading us was not what I would have envisioned or chosen at all, He had been faithful. We were still here. All that we have need of has been supplied and we are cared for. It was a very liberating realization that soon set me on a path of re-discovery of my own purpose while on this earth, and the passions and desires I have that fuel and give motion to that purpose. That re-discovery then allowed me to set into motion plans that are now, seven months later, coming together like many streams into one river. Along with the converging of those streams comes the upheaval caused by waters meeting, splashing, pushing around loose sediments, and waves that exert force and momentum, until the river begins to smooth out after some distance downstream. That's where I am as I write this afternoon. I've made big changes, set goals and reached them in pursuit of the larger vision, and am enjoying the confidence that My Lord has led me and is with me. I see it unfolding, yet coming together simultaneously. Each stream loses its' own identity but becomes part of a greater whole. The upheaval and the waves are smoothing out, the channel deepened, and the flow is calming into a wide strong river that moves continuously toward its destination. Upheaval? No doubt. However, it is of the sort that bears the imprint of Gods' hand and His guiding Presence. Truly, as it has been said, "Jesus does all things well."