Everything Turns to Nothing

Sometimes I really struggle. I struggle to keep it all together. I struggle in my faith. I struggle with balancing being a husband, a father, a youth director, a good employee. Point is: I struggle.

July was such a demanding month with a lot of things going on, and in the midst of that busyness, my struggles seem amplified. Sometimes I just wish that I had a pause button for my life so I could stop and catch a breather. There was definitely times where I said: "OK God. When is enough, enough?"

Tonight, God finally decided to give me the answer.

Like many times, He seems to always speak to me through music. The song is "Next to You" by Jay Michael. (You should really check him out--HERE! ) To give you an better understanding, here's the chorus:

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I'm next to You.

Simple words, but powerful meaning. And it all hit home tonight.

Yesterday, we met a couple who is following God's calling in their lives to be counselor parents at a residential placement facility. They are uprooting their lives, their kids, their pets, and leaving well established ministries on the other side of the state. Their story is wrought full of how God has moved mightily and quickly to make this all happen. I'm blessed that Kelly and I have found ourselves part of that story.

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I'm next to You.

Today, we had an awesome worship service and I was able to talk to one of our youth who I haven't seen most of the summer. She's working at a Bible camp and she shared just how great of an experience it has been for her and how she has grown in her faith because of that. I left feeling pretty blessed that once again, God has used me in part of that story.

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I'm next to You.

Tonight, three students, two from the youth ministry, and one that just showed up tonight for the concert put some of their struggles at the foot of the cross and either rededicated or committed their lives to Christ. In speaking to these students, I'm amazed at the struggles that they are going through. Teenagers have it rough. Even more rough than we realize at times. I'm thankful that God has given me the opportunity to work with these kids and share and encourage them through these struggles. I'm blessed for the part God has for me in their stories.

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I'm next to You.

Sitting here, reflecting on it all those words keep repeating themselves. That chorus keeps replaying in my head. My struggles aren't struggles at all. When I put them next to God, they aren't anything. In fact, these very struggles are what has prepared me for a lot of these things that I've dealt with and will begin to deal with. When I put them into a context like that, they really aren't struggles at all. They are part of my story and I hope that it can be an encouragement to someone elses' story...