I like to think I am a realistic optimist. I am fairly grounded, but still like to believe the best about things not the worst. However, this morning I woke up feeling heavy. Within the last week 3 people in my life have found out that their parents are facing serious cancer diagnoses, another friend lost a parent and another has been hospitalized with unexplained medical difficulties. The national news is filled with frightening information about the economy, the aftermath of hurricanes and the upcoming elections--not to mention the normal stories of war, terrorism and domestic violence. I was just feeling heavy.
I called a good friend, then my husband to ask them both what they made of all this craziness. "Is the world coming to an end?" I asked. Why does there seem to suddenly be so much pain, suffering and fear that worsens by the day?
Just as I hung up from the second call my radio spouted perfectly timed truth from a Seeds CD I was listening to:
"Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things that you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)
There is a place for fellowship--but with my deepest fears and questions, God wants me to call on Him. In return, He promises wisdom and insight. Wow! I was blown away by the assurance God offered me, just when I needed it.
When the waves of overwhelm return, I thought, I want to remember THIS MOMENT. I looked at the clock for the time. It was 8:28. Our God is an on-time God, oh, yes, He is! Immediately, I thought of another 8:28, Romans 8:28.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
In ALL things He is working. We serve a God who is big enough and mighty enough to use ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for the accomplishment of His Will.
It doesn't take away the hurt I feel for my friends and neighbors as they walk through challenging times...but it does give me hope and perspective.
And the fact that He can speak exact words I need through Scripture written a thousand years ago at the precise moment I needed it...that is astounding! What a caring, detail-oriented Father!
7 comments:
I so get what you are saying!! Just the thought of what our country could face in the election and finacially is frightening enough! Also, my K. gets her driver's license today - talk about fear! Please keep her (and me) in your prayers!! Our eyes need to look to God and HE WILL show us HIS mercy!! (Psalm 123: 2) "O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress." (Isiah 33:2)
I can relate so well, being that I am an anxious person all this fear on television has made be more anxious. I have to just breathe and trust that the Lord has all this in his control and not mine. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your heart, today it helped me so much! Blessings!
We can't let Satan win with the "What If's" in life that are thrown our way. An elder in one of the churches we attended back when we were fairly newlywed with a young baby once told us, "There is nothing new today that wasn't around when I was young. It's just the media is more widespread and the photography is better." That really helped me put things into perspective. Discouragement is a true weapon of the devil I believe.
Adversity assaults from every corner. We can absorb or deflect. And deflecting causes soreness (of body and/or heart) but absorbing causes death.
Here's to lobbing those assaults, mental and otherwise, right back at the Evil One! :)
You are such a wise young woman. God is moving all the pieces into place. The world is coming to Jesus, that is what my former pastor used to say..when someone would say What on earth is the world coming to? It is not going anywhere, but to Him. It is all His. This doesn't mean that fear doesn't grip my heart at times. I just strive to bring myself back to the thought that He is in control, He is over all...I am older so it is a little easier for me to not get as upset as I would have when I was your age. I guess mellowness comes with age. You are getting and keeping the right perspective and He will answer your questions. None of this is happening without His knowledge and His approval. He is the one who puts men into power and takes them out. We all need to just keep looking to Him,focus on Him and not the problems....He is bigger than any of the problems... Bless your sweet family.
I love it when God finds ways to speak so specifically to us. It really reminds me that God is good ALL the time!
I've really been feeling the same way lately. It seems like every time I turn around, I have another friend or family member going through some tremendous trial. The blessing in it is so amazingly clear to me, though. When I am made aware of a need, it truly makes me draw closer to Him. I know I should see him in the good times just as intimately, but at least it gives me something to be grateful for in the hard times. I know it will draw me to Him, and from that I will grow.
I love that I am getting to know you more (even though you don't know me). I'm slowly but surely catching up on your blog, and you have really blessed me (as a mom, L&D nurse, child of God, and friend....not to mention southern sista!)
Bless you and thank you!
Jen you are such a blessing!!! Thank you for your wonderful blogs!!! I think you need to write a book!!! Your precious family is so blessed to have you!!!
God Bless You and Thank you again!!!
Phyllis in Texas
Thank you for sharing that. I, too, have been feeling "heavy" this week and I have come back and read this post a couple of times as a good reminder. How comforting to know that He is big enough to have it all under control, and loving enough to care about "little ol' me" to meet me where I am when I am worrying about things.
(PS - Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Erin, I live in Texas, and I just got married in May. I can't remember how I found your blog but I have been encouraged by you since I started reading it a couple months ago.)
Post a Comment