it's Nita.

Encountering the nature of God through experiencing God is how faith is grown into maturity.

In times of lack, you can experience supernatural provision (Jireh).

In times of anxiety, you can experience supreme peace (Shalom).

In times you feel forgetten, you can experience His personal presence (Shammah).

In times you’re hidden, you can experience being known and seen (Roi).

While there are many other names, these names come to mind for me and another “new” one.

Not new in the sense that I just discovered something about God that was never known but I’d never heard it spoken or even seen it written down.

A couple weeks ago as my Pastor was preaching on what to do when God is silent, The Holy Spirit brought to mind the word “kept”.

As I’ve done many times in the past, I looked up the word.

Kept – guarded, protected, perserved, looked after.

I’ve been meditating on this and last night it sparked an idea to look up where kept, keeper is mentioned of God.

Because surely God is a Keeper. God has kept me in many ways and many seasons through trials and tribulations (some of which were my own making).

And I certainly don’t mean that as hyperbole.

I can look back and see I’ve experienced the very tangible nature of God as my keeper.

Jehovah Shamar in my waiting

Jehovah Shamar in my wondering

Jehovah Shamar in my wandering

Jehovah Shamar in my obedience

Jehovah Shamar in my disobedience

Jehovah Shamar in the wilderness

Jehovah Shamar in the Promised Land

Because it’s not about whether my life is going well or bad.

God is still the same. Yesterday, now, and forever…

So as I walk through my current season of dealing with a rare chronic disease of nearly 7 years…

Waiting, wondering, wandering, pleading, lamenting, raging, worrying, hoping

I can look back and see my Keeper.

Through the diagnosis of Acromegaly, He kept my mind.

Through the first brain surgery, He kept my body.

Through these last 6+ years of treatment (some of which made things worse), He’s kept my heart and soul.

The healing I so gleefully believed for all those years ago didn’t come suddenly. But the doesn’t mean the Lord wasn’t there or that I’ve been forgetten.

If I only looked for Jehovah Rapha (God my Healer), I’d be angry and disappointed as if God isn’t who He says He is.

Moreover, I would have missed Jireh, Shalom, Shammah, Roi, and now Shamar.

And so, in the not yet, I still testify that God is still good.

Selah. 😌

His best always,

Nita