"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." — Revelation 4:8b

God was, God is, and God is to come. That is some deep stuff right there. On a recent jog around my neighborhood, the power of this verse came flooding over me. God, who made everything, who is over everything, who has always been, and who will always be is also so very present in my small, simple, zoomed in life. He cared for me, cares for me, and will care for me because he is God and he is love. I was so encouraged by this thought that I wanted to encourage you also—to remember who God has been in your life, who he is now in your everyday moments, and who he says he will be in the future. Come on a run with me.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was…

It was a regular old Saturday and I took off down the street for a relaxing run on my own. I often listen to old playlists from when I used to train in pole vault—Scripture playlists, christian rap, or some combination of 80’s rock from my childhood as I work out. Nearing the end of my run, a song came on that sent me to a very specific time: the spring of 2016. As the music played and my stride matched up with the tempo of the song, my mind was flooded with the images and emotions of the first time I’d heard that song. 

My husband and I were driving home from a track meet on a windy road from Kentucky to Indiana. All season long I had been chasing the “Olympic A standard” (the height I needed to jump in order to qualify for the Olympic trials) and time was running out. This last meet had gone like all the others…I had not qualified again, and I had just a few more meets to jump the height I needed to jump. The author of the lyrics talked about how though he kept on falling, “there would be time.” This non-christian song unintentionally mimicked a verse that I’d been clinging to from the book of Isaiah where God promises the people abundant life. At the end of the passage God says this: “I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.” (Isaiah 60:22b). I remember closing my eyes, tears running down my face, the sunlight pouring in through the windows, my feet on the dashboard, thinking to myself, “Okay Lord, if it is to be, you will do it. In your time.” 

Now, nearly 8 years later, on a run through my neighborhood, as this same song came on over my air pods, I cried remembering God’s power in my life. On the final day to qualify, after all the waiting, in God’s perfect timing, and yet swiftly, I jumped the Olympic A standard to make my way into the 2016 Olympic Trials. 

God was so good to me. 

As I continued to run, I started to think of all the ways he’d been good to me. I call them my list of miracles (because that’s what they are). I recounted all the ways God has been my everything—from graciously giving me a husband who is not like me (I thought I wanted to marry someone like myself…thank God I did not!), to the wild and delicate way he has built our family through adoption, to meeting me in my anxious seasons, to the salvation of my soul. God, you have been my everything and I will worship you.. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was…

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is…

Finishing the run, I wiped my tears (and sweat) as I walked up to my house. The smell of burgers poured over the fence line filling my nostrils as I took out my airpods. As the music stopped, my ears were flooded with the sounds of my husband chasing our three boys around the backyard. I peaked around the corner of the house to keep them unaware that I was there. Laughter and tiny voices pressed in as I quietly watched them for a few minutes. Psalm 16:6 came to mind: “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” 

Standing there, I again began to weep. 

Not everything in life is always pleasant, but in this season, there has been such a sweetness in our home and in our lives.  I was overwhelmed with worship in my heart for God who is so good in my life, in this very moment. God, you are my everything, and I will worship you. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is…

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come…

I continued to stand on the fence line with my eyes closed. In that moment of gratitude for what God has done and is doing in my life, my heart began to ache as I was also reminded of all that is yet to be made right. Loved ones who are in pain, relationships that are broken, and the continual suffering and strife throughout the world. This is always the battle I fight in my emotions and mind as a believer—holding both gratitude for all that is and ache for all that is not yet. With my eyes closed, I imagined the day when King Jesus will come and make all things right, when tears are no more, when striving ceases, when relationships are repaired, when bodies are made perfect and all of us who declare Jesus as King will stand before God, worshiping him forever. God, you will always be everything. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!

It’s Your Turn to Remember.

This simple act of calling to mind what God has done, is doing, and promises to do is such a powerful act of worship. So let me challenge you to take 5 minutes and ask yourself these three simple questions today:

• What has God done in my life?
• What is God doing in my life today?
• Which of God’s promises give me hope for the future?