Nevertheless

If you saw the recap yesterday, you saw that my Pinterest-inspired project was a little DIY canvas art that I used to display the word Nevertheless.

Odd.

So I thought I'd explain.

Earlier this year, on Mid-Morning, we interviewed Angie Smith about her book What Women Fear. (Fantastic book on fear if you happen to struggle with it...even if you're not a woman.) I love Angie, I love her book(s), and helping to interview her goes right up there on my list of "is this really my life?" moments.

I underlined a LOT while reading her book, but this one particular part struck me. She wrote about Jonah and how God repeatedly provided for him even in the middle of his rebellion:

"He knew Jonah's heart, so He did something drastic, something epic, something that to the naked eye, looks like a tragedy, and He used it for His glory.

"The words of Jonah are profound in their earnest simpicity:

"So I said, 'I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.' (Jonah 2:4, NASB)

"I want to live the 'nevertheless' life, don't you?

"Many times in my life I have seen an obstacle as the enemy, but looking back now I see it was an appointed mercy." (P. 143 What Women Fear)

I. Loved. That.

Imagine being Jonah and seeing that fish coming straight for you. Imagine opening your eyes (because face it, you slammed them shut when the fish headed your way, jaw dropped) and finding yourself floating in its belly. Would your first thought be Nevertheless, I will look again toward God's temple?

Doubtful!

God specializes in impossibilities, and He also takes the unlikeliest of circumstances and turns them around into our greatest lessons...and His greatest victories.

There were days, in the desert, when I thought I would physically die from the pain of it all. There were days I HOPED to die from the pain of it all. But my favorite days were the ones when I clenched my fists, gritted my teeth and said, "I choose to believe that You will be glorified in this."

A shorter way to say that?

Nevertheless.

My life aches until I think it can ache no more....nevertheless...

Since I'm a visual girl, I wanted something tangible in my presence every day that reminded me I want to live the nevertheless life. So when I saw the canvas idea on Pinterest, I decided to adapt it to reflect the word Nevertheless. I hung it up at the entrance to the kitchen, because you know I frequent THAT room, so each day I can be reminded that regardless of what I see coming toward me...swallowing me up...engulfing me...trapping me...nevertheless...