Have you ever had a situation that scared you to the bone, but you had no power to change it?
I’ve decided if you live long enough, you might have more than just one of these circumstances and I can only hope that through each event we are strengthened and made wiser.
Life throws curve balls: illness, death, divorce, disabilities, disagreements, lawsuits, depression and the list goes on. The world we live in is unfair, unmerciful and self-serving.
The details bog us down and consume our time. At the end of the day, we wonder what happened or why we find ourselves at the bottom of the pit.
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Psalm 40:11-12
Time after time, the Bible refers to the trials and tribulations faced by men and women of God. As I have said before, we aren’t getting out of this world alive or without problems.
The true test is what we do in the midst of our darkest hour. Who do we turn to? And what do we learn?
I’m a worry wart by nature and a scaredy cat for sure. I want people to like me, I flee from conflict and I abhor confrontation. I struggle terribly with life’s challenges and to live through them as God would want me to.
Sure it’s easy to say, “let go and let God.” However, show me the person who practices this easily or consistently. I dare say many of us wrestle with the harder parts of life and look back with the opinion of a Monday morning quarterback.
Of course, I can tell you all day long to pray and read your Bible, but God is the only One who can grant us the strength, courage, wisdom and discernment we need daily to get through the tough stuff.
A few verses to remember and pray are the following:
- Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
- When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4
- I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
God reminds us CONTINUALLY throughout scripture to count on HIM. He wants us to rely on Him for our every need and promises us He will provide ALL that we need.
Stupidly, we walk around trying to find our own way, fix our own problems and act like we’ve got it all figured out. Yes…I said stupid (my kids think this is a bad word…and yes, I’m shocked they haven’t said worse since I am their mama!!).
The question is when am I (or you) going to realize that God wants every second of every day. He doesn’t promise to make it easy, but He promises to lead us through it.
All we have to do is bow down before His thrown and ASK. OBEY. And live as He would have us live.
Man oh man…God wants SO much more for us than the fret, worry, fear, anxiety and depression of our worldly view.
He wants us to see His beauty, grace, love and mercy in every situation, every moment and every breath.
Will you trust God enough to let Him handle your life?
Please pray for those who are facing difficult times. Someone might need your help more than you know.
Some Wisdom for Today: Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Dad always said the only thing fair in the world was the sky and it was usually partially cloudy.