Traces of You

I was sitting at the computer catching up on some things yesterday. I usually have music playing while I’m getting myself situated. And I play my same old favorite albums over and over again. I LOVE Joann Rosario. “Traces of You” happened to be playing. I’ve listened to that song a thousand times. But what I got from it yesterday- I had never received before.

My interpretation of the song was that sometimes things will come up in our lives that we have no control over. And even though we’re supposed to pray about it and let it go, sometimes we fret because it’s a situation that we’ve never dealt with before. That’s what I took from, “Now I don’t like to pray and worry but this situation is new". However, there is a verse in there that didn’t quite make sense in my mind. It didn’t really fit with my interpretation of the song. When she sings, “Lord I know better. Use me whenever, but I must see traces of you. Here what I say. Lord, I believe You. I know You gone come through. But I must see traces of You.”

I would think to myself, why is she saying, “Lord, I know better. Use me whenever, but I must see traces of You”??? Well, because of the past three months, I know what it means now.

See, this life is not about us. I hate to burst your bubble, but it’s the truth. Yes, there are trials and situations that are beyond our control. And yes, we are supposed to learn, grow, and mature from these storms. But what God has shown me in these last three months is that we go through for others. Our tests become our testimonies. Our misery becomes our ministry.

I have an extremely close confidant. She is one of my best friends. She is one of the few people I can go to when I have my mini melt downs and shouting matches within the spirit realm. And EVERYTHING that I go to her about, she went through. And it dawned on her that she went through all of her mess for me. I’m telling yall, every single trial, every single struggle in my mind, me losing my job, my relationship issues; she went through ALL of it. And now, because she got through it, she is able to minister to me and speak life into me.

I know that I have ministry in me. And I know that these storms are not only to make me stronger, but to encourage someone else. It’s to be a light in the midst of darkness. It’s to be a shoulder to cry on. It’s to be a witness to the awesome and unfathomable unconditional love of God.

Look at Jesus. Jesus didn’t go through just to go through. He didn’t get mistreated, lied on, beat, betrayed, abused, ostracized, and killed just to do it. He went through that “storm” for you and me.

Do you get it? It’s not about you. And I truly believe that once you submit your will to God and realize that, you won’t fear the storms. Know that with God by your side, you’re going to get through it. You really will come out pure as gold, much better than you were before.

Now, when I sing, “Lord, I know better, use me whenever, but I must see traces of You”, I truly understand it and mean it. I know better than to fret and become upset. I know that this storm is about more than just me. There is a bigger piece. But I want you to use me. I want to do Your will. So, use me whenever. But please, allow me to see traces of You during the storm.

Isn’t God good? He loves you. And so do I!! =) Have a blessed weekend.