I have to say, I've been struggling these past few weeks. I tell you truthfully and sincerely that I trust God. I do know He is faithful and I know that His timing is perfect. AND I even believe the scripture found in Romans 8:28 that assures us, "all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord." Lately, though, I guess I've let a lingering illness get the best of my attitude. I've found myself in a place of weariness and I hear myself saying constantly, "I'm just really tired." Often times the natural can rob the spiritual, if we permit. My best friend reminded me of the Apostle Paul who said he counted all of his suffering joy. See, Paul had it figured out. He had learned to "become content in whatever state" he was in. (Philippians 4:11-12) Let me just tell you, he went through some awful things in his time here on earth.
Earlier this week, I heard a message entitled, "How Can You Trust Someone You Don't Know?" The minister pointed out that we Christians say we trust the Lord, but yet, we have no relationship with Him. We do not know Him, so how can we truly say, we trust Him? I refer you to 2 Peter 1:3 which tells us in knowing Him, we have all of the things we need to live holy before Him. I liken this courtship to earthly relationships whether friendly or romantically. You have to get to know a person before you can truly love them. Applying the same thought process to the spiritual aspect, the more we study, the more we know; the more we know, the more we love; the more we love, the more we trust.
Over my entire life, I can see where I've had the privilege of learning the different sides of God. It becomes easy, natural, to trust when you have the Scriptural foundation to stand on. Ponder this...
Financial hardship is an obvious place to start. Single mom of two kids, recovering from financial disaster upon marital separation, and so on... Without this trial, I would never have experienced the uncanny way God always provides. He is indeed my provider. He has brought me through some very tough places and not only met my needs, but even on many occasions, my wants. Biblical promise: "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Along with the financial strain, I lost everything, more than once. Divorce. A flood. A fire. The second, impending divorce. I walked away from each of these situations with nothing, except clothes in a suitcase. This last time, I also walked away with the best thing ever--my girls. These things have proven to be for my betterment, but it didn't take away the sting of the loss at the time. Each time, though, I've always, without a doubt, gotten back so much better. Biblical promise: The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts." Joel 2:25, 26; "You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God." Psalm 71:20-22
The death of my dad several years ago caused MAJOR emotional problems-crisis-for me. It took several years to deal with it because I couldn't face it at the time. I ran. I worried about my mother. I worried about my sisters and, of course, myself. God in His mercy helped me deal as time has gone on at a pace I could handle. I've learned to run to Him with matters that I would typically have gone to my earthly father for counsel. Biblical promises: "A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation." Psalm 68:5; "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you." John 14:26
The rejection and stigma of two divorces has often played out in fear. Fear of love, fear of trust, fear of being left alone again. Fear in a natural relationship can cross right over into your relationship with the Lord. Continually, He has proven faithful. His promises are true. He has never disappointed and He chose me first. He bought me, saved me, pulled me out "of a horrible pit." (Psalm 40:2). There are many, many scriptures that come to mind which evidence His love and mercy, but I'll share two that I've clung to even in the midnight hour. Biblical promises: "...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20; "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. " 1 Peter 2:9
A debilitating, chronic illness as I said in the beginning, has been very difficult to manage. However, as all of His promises are true, I continue to hang on these Biblical promises: "...by His wounds you are healed." 1 Peter 2:24; "O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death." Psalm 30:2,3
Sin after sin after sin; trap after trap after trap; temptation, addiction, adultery, unforgiveness, anger and the list continues. Through it all, He has never left, but rather He has washed me, cleansed me, forgiven me. Two scriptures are at the top of an even longer list than that of my shortcomings. Biblical promises: "All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)" Ephesians 2:3-5; "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38,39
And I could go on and on and on....He is my Provider, my Healer, my Strength, my Fortress, my Redeemer; He is, in fact, my ALL. I only know, because I've been through so much in which He has proven Himself time and time again. Indeed, I count it all joy!
Romans 5:3-5 "but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Earlier this week, I heard a message entitled, "How Can You Trust Someone You Don't Know?" The minister pointed out that we Christians say we trust the Lord, but yet, we have no relationship with Him. We do not know Him, so how can we truly say, we trust Him? I refer you to 2 Peter 1:3 which tells us in knowing Him, we have all of the things we need to live holy before Him. I liken this courtship to earthly relationships whether friendly or romantically. You have to get to know a person before you can truly love them. Applying the same thought process to the spiritual aspect, the more we study, the more we know; the more we know, the more we love; the more we love, the more we trust.
Over my entire life, I can see where I've had the privilege of learning the different sides of God. It becomes easy, natural, to trust when you have the Scriptural foundation to stand on. Ponder this...
Financial hardship is an obvious place to start. Single mom of two kids, recovering from financial disaster upon marital separation, and so on... Without this trial, I would never have experienced the uncanny way God always provides. He is indeed my provider. He has brought me through some very tough places and not only met my needs, but even on many occasions, my wants. Biblical promise: "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Along with the financial strain, I lost everything, more than once. Divorce. A flood. A fire. The second, impending divorce. I walked away from each of these situations with nothing, except clothes in a suitcase. This last time, I also walked away with the best thing ever--my girls. These things have proven to be for my betterment, but it didn't take away the sting of the loss at the time. Each time, though, I've always, without a doubt, gotten back so much better. Biblical promise: The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts." Joel 2:25, 26; "You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God." Psalm 71:20-22
The death of my dad several years ago caused MAJOR emotional problems-crisis-for me. It took several years to deal with it because I couldn't face it at the time. I ran. I worried about my mother. I worried about my sisters and, of course, myself. God in His mercy helped me deal as time has gone on at a pace I could handle. I've learned to run to Him with matters that I would typically have gone to my earthly father for counsel. Biblical promises: "A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation." Psalm 68:5; "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you." John 14:26
The rejection and stigma of two divorces has often played out in fear. Fear of love, fear of trust, fear of being left alone again. Fear in a natural relationship can cross right over into your relationship with the Lord. Continually, He has proven faithful. His promises are true. He has never disappointed and He chose me first. He bought me, saved me, pulled me out "of a horrible pit." (Psalm 40:2). There are many, many scriptures that come to mind which evidence His love and mercy, but I'll share two that I've clung to even in the midnight hour. Biblical promises: "...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20; "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. " 1 Peter 2:9
A debilitating, chronic illness as I said in the beginning, has been very difficult to manage. However, as all of His promises are true, I continue to hang on these Biblical promises: "...by His wounds you are healed." 1 Peter 2:24; "O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death." Psalm 30:2,3
Sin after sin after sin; trap after trap after trap; temptation, addiction, adultery, unforgiveness, anger and the list continues. Through it all, He has never left, but rather He has washed me, cleansed me, forgiven me. Two scriptures are at the top of an even longer list than that of my shortcomings. Biblical promises: "All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)" Ephesians 2:3-5; "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38,39
And I could go on and on and on....He is my Provider, my Healer, my Strength, my Fortress, my Redeemer; He is, in fact, my ALL. I only know, because I've been through so much in which He has proven Himself time and time again. Indeed, I count it all joy!
Romans 5:3-5 "but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Comments
Post a Comment