Cindy Powell

“Walking around these walls
I thought by now they’d fall
But You have never failed me yet”

From the first notes of the song, Jesus had my attention.

It had been a strange week–happy and heavy, wonderful and wearisome. I was away on a little “happy birthday to me” trip and I had gone through a gamut of emotions. Because, well, life is filled with a gamut of emotions.

This was my last night before heading home. I was at the Sunday evening service at Bethel Church in Redding. I won’t soon forget the roar of faith released that night. I have a video posted below (and the video is pretty amazing) but to get the full effect, it  was a “you had to be there” type of thing.

God always seems to meet me in a special way when I make the trek up to Redding. Whether it is hanging out in the prayer house, in nature, or at one of the regular services at Bethel, my heart is always revived. This time was no exception.

Sometimes you need to step away from your daily circumstances for a moment to gain much needed perspective. Sometimes you need to unplug and set your gaze higher.

Really sometimes you just need to pause long enough to remember your own history with God…

“I’ve seen You move
You move the mountains
And I believe
I’ll see You do it again

You’ve made a way
Where there was no way
And I believe
I’ll see You do it again”

I have seen Him move mountains. I’ve been an eyewitness to His glory.  I’ve tasted His faithfulness. I’ve experienced His goodness.

Over and over and over again.

Over and over again when it seemed there was no way–somehow He made a way. Sometimes He shows up in the “suddenlies” and in a single moment everything changes. Other times He shows up in the moments themselves with quiet kisses of grace that provide the hope and strength to keep going.

The one constant is that He always shows up again. He always comes through. Always.

He’s never failed me yet.

I’ve often been questioned about my ongoing belief  in God’s absolute goodness in light of the state of the world, and–even closer to home–in light of things I’ve personally experienced or that my family and friends have experienced.  How can you still believe when…? Why doesn’t God do something about …? How can you still believe He’ll do … ?

The answer is simple:

I believe because I’ve seen Him.

A better question is how can I not believe? When you’ve personally seen mountains move, you can’t help but believe you’ll see Him move them again.

But how do you explain a personal history with God to someone who doesn’t have that history? How do you explain peace that passes understanding? How do you explain faith that endures in spite of setbacks and disappointments?  How do you explain the ongoing transformation of your mind and heart? How do you explain joy and hope that keep bubbling up despite the frequently heart-breaking and soul-wearying circumstances of this life?

How do you explain that when you see Him–really see Him–you know NOTHING is impossible.

Nothing.

No matter how long you wait. No matter how many things seem to contradict His promises. No matter how much it may feel like God has forgotten you. When you see Him…when you experience Him…

When you KNOW Him…

You know He will NEVER fail.

Of course the rub is that while He never fails, I still do. My thoughts still wander. I still give in to discouragement. I still mess up. I still forget who He is…and who I am to Him. But never for long.

It’s never for long because it’s not about my faithfulness–it’s about His.

And He never forgets to be faithful.

So He reminds me. And once again I remember…

Jesus, You’ve never failed me yet.

“Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence
You’ve never failed me yet”

*Quoted lyrics are from the song Do It Again by Elevation Worship