Those Who Listen

   A few years ago I had a serious crush on a boy. We were in that weird, are we/aren't we stage and it was killing me. Not to mention that we didn't live in the same state, so things were challenging. I remember that most of friends told me to move on. Get over it. That made me feel sad, helpless and hopeless. Something wasn't sitting right. So I had lunch with the wonderful and wise and funny Joann (aka JoJo).
   Going into lunch I was nervous to say anything about the situation because I felt like just letting it go was the thing to do and I didn't want to hear one more person tell me the same thing because those words were painful. But, JoJo is just so lovely and easy to tell things to and after a few probing questions I was spilling out the story. And I braced myself for her sympathetic rebuke. But it didn't come.
   You know what she told me? She said, "Sara, is he a believer?" Yes.  "Well then the great news is that he listens to Jesus, so you know what we're going to do? We are going to ask Jesus to work and move." It was the most hopeful, uplifting and encouraging words. I went from defeated to hopeful. And not just because I could do something, but because I was reminded of who orders our lives. I can go to Him with my desires and He cares. They matter to Him. And He speaks back, lovingly weaving our hearts and lives back to Him.
 
   I remember those words a lot. That I don't have to be in despair, because when my heart aches for something, there is One who is always at work. It doesn't mean that we always get the things we are wanting (case in point, said boy and I never ended up anywhere), but it does mean that God works inside of us to bring peace and joy.
   There are things that I want right now and I started to feel overwhelmed and lost. But then I remembered that God is at work, in my life and in the live of other folks. It is to Him that I can make my petition knowing that He is a Father who gives good gifts.

For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. -Lamentations 3:31-33