God Is...

Am I the only person who wonders why things have to be "worse before they get better". I use the phrase "have to" very lightly but in my experience every time I set my mind on something, the journey getting there makes me question why I began in the first place. It's like you're going down a road with a bump here and a hiccup there but you get further down that road and things start flying out of nowhere. Your body begins to be affected and the clear path becomes blurred. The consistent question I ask myself is “why can't I ever catch a break?”

I feel like I have an auto-renewable first-class seat on the struggle bus. But this seat over time has come with some advantages. I’ve had to learn how to change my mindset when it came to addressing the challenges that get placed in front of me. It's always easier to cry for hours, stay in bed and be stuck on this one thing that, to be honest, you probably couldn't even control. I now, instead look to the one who put the obstacle in front of me, to begin with.

Have you ever addressed, God? I mean in the rawest form. Not no, “I come humbly before you my Lord” but more so off the “Why are you doing this right now”?. It seems a bit straight forward but why do we often think that we can’t use modern-day dialect when we talk to God. I mean yes King James version English is considered normal to some but as a 22-year-old woman who likes both Trap music and Gospel, tunes-I have to come to him as me. And sometimes, I'm very upset, frustrated at him and to be honest I often start off my conversation as “sooo…why did you…” But my intentions are good and my heart is pure when coming to him with this type of demeanor. I hate to tell you but that thing that's troubling you, God sent that-on purpose. This idea that God allows bad or troublesome things to happen to me really through me in a loop. So remember I talked about that struggle bus? Well, the driver is God and my name is engraved on that first-class seat. And every bump I feel or pothole that sends me over to the next row of seats, my man God is driving the bus.

I came up with the topic "God Is..." after recently purchasing some items from the Atlanta based clothing brand God is Dope. It's been a brand that I have followed since its very beginnings and one that I have admired given their evolution of Godly based clothing. The original God is Dope design has always been my favorite and when they created a pink and green version I had to grab it. The message is on the shirt. Using this modern-day term to describe that God is "very good", I have to agree. However, despite the mission behind the brand itself; "...to generate faith-based awareness through fashion, entertainment and influence". I wanted to bring a different interpretation to the sentence God is Dope.

Throughout my walk, with Christ, he has taken on many forms. Some that I have prayed for him to be and others that I needed him to be. Some included being a provider, a listener, a motivator, a father to the fatherless and a confidante. But what if this Atlanta based brand is trying to teach us something beyond the 9 letters. To encourage conversation, interpretation, and transformation in the way we see who God is. Using modern-day lingo to adhere to the societal changes of religion to be relevant, cool and keeps the people going. What if, its a message within a message. Stay with me. Through my wrestle with this blog post, I thought can the word "dope" mean more?

God is...Deserving Revelation 4:11 says ‘Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created things, and because of Your will they existed and were created” He is worthy of every praise you have because your situation could be a lot worse. He is deserving of your dollar because he can turn 1 into 2 if you let him. Don't be selfish because just as He gives he can take away.

God is...Omnipotent Colossians 1:6 says “For him, all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. I used to doubt that God would hear my cries because someone else somewhere needed him more than I did at a given time. But I was wrong, and he can heal the sick, send a blessing down for your friend’s tuition and make you debt-free in the same millisecond. Never feel alone because I'm sure he’s right next to you, you and you comforting simultaneously.

God is...Preparing Psalm 23:5 says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.” People talking about you and your family isn't supportive? Girl… the Lord has already anointed you for the journey ahead with or without them. It's time to stand up and know that He has prepared a table which is your end goal and it has a seat with your name on it.

God is...Eternal

Revelation 1:8 says “I am the Alpha and Omega,” says the Lord God “who was and who is and who is to come, the Almighty”. This relationship is a forever thing and despite all that you are going through he will never leave you, even in death. For all who believe in Him shall have eternal life.

So the next time you see someone wearing a God is Dope shirt or you are faced with the phrase "God is..." I hope you remember this acronym or make your own! God is the Goat, He is the MVP, He's my dawg fa show, make it plain and simple. Something that is relevant to you and what you need because trust me, your battle doesn't compete with what God can do for your life. Own it, use it and call on His name. That mountain will be moved.