Have You Had a “There was Jesus” Moment?

If you have a play list or listen to the radio, I’m sure you’ve heard Christian singer and songwriter Zach Williams singing with country legend Dolly Parton, ‘There Was Jesus.’ Zach, after years as a heavy rocker with drug addiction, turned to God. It was his “There was Jesus” moment because from that moment on, he has been using his gift of music to give praise to God. Remembering his many struggles, he realized that Jesus was with him the entire way. That realization led to the creation of ‘There Was Jesus.’ “In the waiting, in the searching In the healing and the hurting Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces Every minute, every moment Of where I been and where I'm going Even when I didn't know it Or couldn't see it There was Jesus. For this man who needs amazing kind of grace For forgiveness at a price I couldn’t pay I’m not perfect so I thank God every day There was Jesus” This song continues to catch me off guard. The chill bumps and often the tears flow when I hear it. I know those “there was Jesus” moments. I think of the many times when hope seemed lost; when the pain seemed unbearable, when comfort couldn’t be found, when disappointment overwhelmed me, when tears were my best friend, when my world seemed so broken and there was no way to pick up the broken pieces…….BUT, then, THERE WAS JESUS. He was there all along. In the waiting, in the searching, in the hurting and the healing. There was Jesus. There He was. There He is. Right beside us even in the darkest, most depressing, most disheartening, and most discouraging moments – there IS Jesus. I type this blog in the wee early hours of this morning when I ponder those who are in a world of concern about our new president and his administration. I read comments on my recent blogs about praying for our new president and trusting him to God. But, some comments include the concerns and worries about what our future holds. I just can’t, and won’t, go there. I know Jesus hasn’t “left the building”. And neither has He departed from our Country. In the words of that inspiring song, “There was Jesus” and in my words, “There IS Jesus”. The disciples were huddled in fear behind locked doors, THEN, there was Jesus. Their boat was taking in water in the fierce storm. Fear gripped them. THEN, there was Jesus. Peter’s day of fishing was disappointing. THEN, there was Jesus. It was God’s Master Plan for Jesus to be human so that you and I have someone who gets us — who gets our needs — who understands our pains — who SHOWS UP for us when we need Him most. I encourage you to take your eyes off anything that takes your eyes off of Jesus. Let His human example of loving despite pain, refusing to sin in spite of temptation, forgiving in spite of rejection — be our example to others, too. Let Him into the mire and muck of our world. That’s how He shows up and how He will finish up. Let Him be God with us for in letting Him be God with us, will we make it through tough times, tough seasons and tough places. Are you huddled in fear today? Remember, “There IS Jesus!” Let Him SHOW UP in you and your world today! "Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” He said." John 20:19