Maybe it's not look at what God has done to heal my situation, but look at how I can walk with joy ( or just walk!) in spite of what is going on in my life. This is a thought I scribbled on paper some months ago. Pain is a common thread in this journey of mine. I can honestly say I'm thankful for the pain. I'm not talking about surface pain that pricks the heart. I'm referring to a hurt that engulfs me like quicksand or knocks the breath out of me. A paralzying kind. Looking back over my life since when I can remember, it was when I hurt that I sought after God. If it were not for the valleys, I would not know Jesus so intimately. I would not trade my life for one of comfort if it meant I would not know God as a friend. Everyone has loss, disappointments, etc. Not everyone has Jesus to walk with them through it. This is a real tragedy. I shudder to think where I would be physically or mentally without the strength and support from Jesus. My prayer to God now is to not waste the pain. Don't allow Satan victory. Instead, God be glorified.
I have asked God many times why I have experienced so much pain. One day he answered through a gal I barely knew. Compassion. I would not have the compassion I have if it weren't for the pain experienced. That seems so obvious to me now. Thank you God for knowing what I need for the plan you have for my life, not what I think I need for the plans I have for my life.
I want you to know I have had numerous blessings in my life, also. I am immensely grateful to God for changing my heart and plans. I am thankful for a God who knows me better than I do and still loves me and calls me friend. He is never too busy to listen, care, help, love, forgive...I could go on. No matter what you are facing you don't have to walk it alone. He is no respector of persons. He doesn't have favorites. What He has done for me and so many others, He will do for you. Just ask. He says to cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you. The creator of the universe and of me and you really cares. Whatever burden you carry, cast it over to God. We were never meant to carry so much that we try to handle ourselves. It hinders us from enjoying the many blessings surrounding us daily. His mercies are new every morning. I will talk some more about this next time.
1 comment:
Thank you for being so honest. Have you ever sang the old hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus ? I won't take up a lot of space here with all of the lyrics ( they are easily " googled " ), but this song just kept playing through my head as I was reading your post. I love the whole song - it is so very meaningful. But three of my favorite lines are :
" What a privelge to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh what joy we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer " .
I do believe God gives us trials to sanctify us and to draw us closer to him. It just seems as though when things are going great in my life, I really don't draw near to Him as I should. But give me a trial, and I'm all into prayer and relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I love to talk to missionaries when I have the chance. I once spoke to four missionaries at one time. One was a missionary in Germany, one in Switzerland, and two from somewhere in South America. Where do you think the most conversions and baptisms took place ? Not in the Germany and Switzerland. The German missionary had one conversion/baptism in three years and the missionary from Switzerland had none. They figured these countries were very wealthy and the people just did not have to depend on Jesus like those in South America did. This is why our trials are actual blessings. Tammi, would you remind me what I just said the next time I have some sort of trial in my life ?
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