All you need

Several weeks ago, I went to a local coffee shop for some espresso with a friend on a Friday night. We didn't know until we got there that there was going to be live music there that night. It was just a guy and a guitar, and we settled in to enjoy the music for awhile. I didn't expect it, but one of the songs hit me right where I was. It was all I could do to hold back the tears. Since that time, it's kind of become my theme song for this year-- one of the reminders that I've clung to of where my strength needs to come from, and of the fact that I'm never truly alone, even when it seems like I am.

All You Need
By Brad Davis
I was there this morning, I saw the tears in your eyes
And the sorrow on your face until you put on that disguise
You don’t have to run away or hide behind that smile
Everyone falls down once in a while

Will you let me have the pieces of your broken heart?
Will you let my love pierce your loneliness?
Will you believe that I can satisfy your deepest needs?
And all the fears that linger in your soul
Cause I have walked the dusty roads of life before youI have climbed that lonely mountain of despair
I know how you feel when your back’s against the wall
Will you believe that I am all you need?

I know that it is hard for you to let go of control
But if you trust me with your heart I will never let it go
I know the plans I have for you
I’m gonna make your dreams come true
If you take my hand and just believe

www.bradsdavis.com

One of the parts that sticks out the most to me is the line that says "Will you believe that I can satisfy your deepest needs?" It's so easy as a married woman to look to my husband to fulfill those deepest needs. And while Jesse is an incredible gift from God, and an encouragement and blessing to me each day, his role isn't supposed to be filling those deepest needs. That's God's job, and to expect that of Jesse is to demand more of him than I have a right to, and more than he is able to provide. I need to remember that only God can fill those needs, and to turn to Him first.

That song isn't the only little thing that has stuck with me in the last several months--it always seems that when I need it most, God uses someone in my life to speak truth and encouragement to me. Maybe a month after Jesse left, I was having a rough time, and I got back to my office after being out and about and found a note from a co-worker. She had read a book with a line that made her think of me, and she had left it for me: "Harness the power of God's kiss on your forehead." She had no way of knowing just how significant that was for me ... I have this thing about forehead kisses ... I think they're the most tender kisses you can give, kisses that you reserve for someone you cherish and really care about. They're one of the things I miss most about Jesse, and the mental image of God filling that role, of Him giving me that incredibly tender kiss, is so incredibly powerful.

And then just this last Sunday-- I was having a really down day, I was struggling to hold back tears all through the worship service at church, dreading having to teach my youth group, and wanted nothing more than to just crawl into bed and cry. And when I sat down after worship, a woman passed me a note with a verse on it. Once again, she had no way of knowing just how significant its message was to me, but the verse was Psalm 37:4 .... "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Again, a reminder that God can fill my needs and my desires.

I'm more thankful than I can say for the people in my life who have taken the time to listen to God's voice and encourage me when I needed it most. I pray that I will have the same sensitivity to His spirit, that I will speak words of encouragement into the lives of those around me.