I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I have no idea what my life will look like a week from now… a month from now… heck, don’t get me started on a year from now!
Even still, I mean it when I say this, never in my life have I ever been more certain of this: that smack dab in the middle of this uncertainty is exactly where God wants me to be.
(But that’s about all I’m certain of these days.)
Every year I ask God to give me a word. (And true story, every year I tell God the word He gives me is stupid.) This year was no different.
Most of you already know, the word God gave me for 2017 is ‘believe’ — a word better suited for a Macy’s store front window at Christmastime than a theme for my life, I told God, but I went with it. (He’s the Creator of the universe and all.)
Nearly four months in, I’m beginning to understand the purpose of it. And it’s not at all what I expected. Believing is less Santa Claus and the easter bunny, and a whole lot more, well… brutal. Having confidence in something when you have no earthly idea what the outcome will be, trusting someone when you don’t understand what they are doing… well, it feels downright foolish, doesn’t it?
Believing God can feel a lot of the same way.
But given the chance that I’m not the only one believing for something today, that I’m not the only one voluntarily handing God the blank page of my life, and inviting Him to write whatever He wants, all while currently staring at an empty page and watching the cursor blink. blink. blink. waiting for God to reveal, literally any, next step.
If that is you today, I’m with you. (And it’s terrifying, I know.) But I have a word for you…
Here are three comforting things we can hold onto in our uncertainty — promises that if we choose to believe, will give us what we need to greet the day (… the next week… the next month…heck, the next year) with courage.
1. God is with you in the middle of the mess
In Hosea 11:9 God says, “I’m here — in your midst.”
As silly and as simple as this is, this gave me so much comfort this week knowing God is with me in the unknown. That He’s not just up their hovering over us from Heaven, but that He’s smack dab in the middle of the madness and the unanswered questions.
2. You are right where God always intended for you to be
Psalm 139:16 says this, “The days of your life were prepared before you had even lived one day.”
Right here, in this moment, in this city, and amid these circumstances, is exactly where God – always – intended for you to be. Repeat it over and over if you have to, say it while rocking back and forth in fetal position or while eating large amounts of chocolate. Whatever you do wont make it any less true. So go wild, I wont judge.
3. Everything’s going to be alright
Jude 1:1-2 says, “I, (insert your name,) are called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax everything is going to be alright; rest, everything’s coming together…”
If you’ve been feeling the way I have felt this week, believing for something that feels foolishly out of reach, even terrifying at times, then I have no doubt that verse almost made you cry. (It know, because it almost made me cry when I read it this morning.)
Jesus is not only with you in the middle of the uncertainty and has prepared in advanced every last day of your life, He knows you by name — and knows exactly what you were put on this earth to do. And Jesus Christ Himself, is the one keeping you safe.
Maybe I am the only one who needed to hear that this week, the only one who needed to hear the comforting words of a God who not only knows who I am, but knows what He’s doing. To hear Him invite me to take a deep breath — everything is going to be alright, and to invite me to rest in who He is and always has been, which is un-freaking-failing.
Today I’m choosing to believe that next week… next month… even, next year… that everything will come together exactly as it is should be.
Until then, its 100% likely you will find me rocking back and forth in fetal position repeating these words, “Right here, in this moment, in this city, and amid these circumstances, is exactly where God – always – intended for me to be.”
…only this time, it wont be the only thing I am certain of.
Update: In a couple of hours I’m getting on plane and headed to the U.K. I’m not gonna lie, I am keeping so many secrets right now, but I can’t wait to tell you all about the amazing things God is doing soon! If you could please pray for my family these next 10 days, that God would use this time to write whatever it is that He wants on the blank page of our life and our church — We want everything to be exactly as God always intended for it to be! Thank you so much, and thank you for all the thoughtful messages! So many of you have reached out these last couple weeks and I can’t tell you how much that means to me! I love how God has crossed our paths from all over the world so that we can encourage each other. Can’t wait to update you all soon!
// 52 weeks to write, 36 to go. //
Krista Ortiz 
You are definitely NOT the only one who needed that word from the Lord! Thank you!
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Krista, your blog is always a breath of fresh air during my week. I ask the Lord annually for a word as well. I have learned through the years not to try and figure out what it means. One year the word was “receive.” My mind immediately went to financial abundance. Our receiving came in the way of “food stamps” for provision that year. In 2015 my word was “celebrate” – my husband said he wanted a divorce! The celebration was that God was putting an end to the Egypt of my life and moving me into the promised land. 2016 my word was abundance/abound – even though going through an excruciatingly painful divorce, I did not want, their was not one area of my life – mind, body, soul, and finances the Lord did not abundantly meet my need. With the divorce final – and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around that – the Lord has given me the word “spectacular” for 2017. I sit on the edge of my seat daily to see this unfold – a grand display of His glory – out of the ordinary, over the top. I’m grateful He only gives me a word.
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Susan, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this with me! Such powerful stories of God showing up and doing what He promised (in ways we don’t expect!)
I love that you also ask God to give you a word and how you too, try to make sense of what it will mean. (I do the same, and I am always, alwayssssss wrong.)
Spectacular is an INCREDIBLE word for 2017! I want to hear how God brings this word to fruition in your life! Please keep me posted on this! And yes, I am with you… so glad God only gives one word. haha!
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You are an amazing writer & child of God! Please don’t ever stop giving us the encouragement & advice etc that God has given you to be received by your followers.
I found your blog by being nosy on Facebook. Clicked through several different profiles and your words caught my eye. I wonder who led me there? Haha!
Thank you for sharing your word! I can relate on so many levels. You help to remind me that there is a reason & that I’m never alone.
Thank you & God Bless!
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An absolutely much needed read for me today. Thank you for sharing your heart and what God is teaching you. The uncertainty of my life definitely makes me feel the same way. Sometimes I would just at least like to read the chapter because a page of the story leaves me with so many questions.
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I’m in the midst of a very uncertain time and heated battle with the enemy. Your blog encouraged my anxious heart. It’s hard to hear from God when you are in the midst of the heat(and in the fetal position) BUT your words have given me hope that I am safe even in the midst of it. Thank you for writing. I needed it desperately.
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Oh man Krista, this is so encouraging! I needed this so much!
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Here’s a funny for you. Anxiety and panic woke me up this morning. There was just way too much for my little self to handle (and not enough bacon). I usually read your blog immediately when it arrives. This one waited until today when my 7 day in a row migraine kept me in bed way past a normal time and I found myself with the extra 5 minutes to read this. (Lucky I don’t have double vision today). It’s been 6 years of chronic migraine and I do not know what the heck God is doing. I keep asking Him to show me just a part of the plan so it makes sense, a word perhaps. NOTHING! This post, if nothing else let me a chuckle like I did the first time I read about your crock pot debacle, when you confessed you told God the word you got was stupid. I chuckled because out right laughter hurts, but I tell God OFTEN that the things he tells me are stuuuuupid. Thank you for honesty!
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