I sit on the front porch, relishing the North Carolina green that surrounds me, magnolia trees beginning to show off with blooms up and down, the morning air still crisp from a rain the night before.
The girls are noisy rowdy in front of me, wrestling over sidewalk chalk, lost within a world of superhero princesses, unknowingly writing a story for themselves that sings with creativity and courage and imagination and good.
And I am fully here with them. I have a thing for the everyday ordinary.
If I only have the eyes to see, grace saturates each day and carries us through the good and the hard and the mess and the chaos.
But still, I find myself going there too: The news reports of yet another crisis, a step ahead to next week’s problems, holding tightly to next year’s worries that might or might not play out. I am here right now with my right-now people, reminding myself to take in the grace because I don’t want to miss this, but I am also there, worrying, fearing, fretting.
It happens in the day and it happens in the night. Sometimes in the middle of heart-stoppingly joyful moments, but sometimes too, in complete silence.
Sometimes my anxiety stems from something as simple as the mundane details of life, but it can also paralyze me as I whirl around worst case scenarios, envisioning how I would respond should something happen to me or one of my people.
Small or big — it doesn’t matter, my worry finds a way to lay claim to any situation.
I become unglued and unraveled and undone, and I cannot gather up my frayed pieces quickly enough. There is not enough deep breathing, not enough words I can whisper to pick up my pieces, to cover me in peace.
As I process it all — trying to be here but mostly there — I realize something about all of these future worries, tomorrow’s struggles, worst-case scenarios that I hold so tightly to: They are false images. They’re not real. They’re just dusty representations of how it would actually be because my imaginings don’t show God’s presence covering me, within me, around me, strengthening me then just as it is now.
It’s why God reminds us so often to simply stay here now. He gives us strength anew every morning, grace for this moment, manna for this day. He knows that one day is about all we can handle so in His gentle guidance He constantly shifts our gaze back to this day. It’s a day-by-day, moment-by-moment collecting of His peace, His presence, His strength, keeping us dependent on Him and continually turning our face toward His, drawing upon His resources rather than our own.
And no matter how hard we try to pick up our pieces, it is this that gives us peace — His presence, standing guard.
In those times when we feel paralyzed by fear, by worry, and drawn away from our right-now moments, let’s remember that fear doesn’t get the final say. Love does.
Love is the one thing that holds us steady. We follow a God of hope when everything else seems to be crumbling, the God who sees when we feel invisible, the God who sings over us as we have no words, the God of justice who fights for us as we are still.
We need not worry about the future: He is good now and will be good then.
Join me as we approach our sweet and present Jesus with the bold confidence that He is with us in this, guarding us, covering us as our strength and our song. May we all fight the urge to race ahead to moments that aren’t ours yet and instead see the grace that covers us right here, right now, with our right-now people.
Because here are some things that I am sure of:
No matter how long the night, the sun always rises.
Light always drives out the dark.
And love always, always wins.
Have you walked through a hard season or dealt with worry and fear? What did you learn through it?
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The worst thing for me as an anxiety patient, is that what I fear most, actually does come to pass. Worst fears realized and can’t be swept away, whatever it was, is here.
Praying for you Elizabeth-Anne,
Even when our worst fears do come to pass…Jesus is still right there for you with His arms wide open…beckoning you to be held in His strong yet tender hands (the same ones that held the nails). He gets what you’re going through more than anyone else does and is right there loving you. Keep laying your burdens at His feet and I am praying that in doing so you will find peace.
Blessings and ((hugs)) sister,
Bev
Would that you could have been my sister rather than the half sister that I ended up with.
As always Bev, thank you for your kind words and support – I must be the token trainwreck of this site, everybody no matter what they are coping with, is so calm, hopefully and absolutely sure they are loved and being watched over. For me, with every trauma, abuse, rejection, criminal act, etc I always felt totally alone and worst still, felt God was punishing me and even enjoying getting back at me for being one of those who say ‘ Lord Lord, and He says, I never knew you ‘.
You are not alone. If you could see through the screens of those who offer up encouragement here, you would see brokenness, fears, and anxiety. We are all here for eachother. I’m praying for you. I pray that you feel God’s presence today in a new way. I pray that you will know just how deeply God cares for you and holds you close.
I have that same fear, Stefanie. Will He
still want me when I get to Heaven? I have bipolar disorder & am on
alot of medication that numbs me. I read God’s Word, &, once in a while I get something out of it. I don’t have many friends, & yet I used to have no problems making friends. I know God is with me, but still fear that I won’t make it all the way.
Dear Elizabeth-Anne- how well I understand what you feel. Remember though they are feelings and not the truth! I have never written on here before and am so non-tech savvy I hope this goes through. You are loved and cherished just as you are by our Lord and I just felt a special love and compassion for you as I read your words. So many times I have felt that same rejection and non-worthiness and yes, sometimes my fears and anxieties do come to pass. Can only deal with each day one at a time and with God’s strength and prayer He is helping me to do just that. I am praying for you and for a very long time I was not able to even pray for myself let alone anyone else. I just didn’t care anymore – but God is filling me with His love and care once again. Karenann
Yes, when people are honest, and allow their true inner thoughts and beliefs out, becoming vulnerable, then healing can begin. My ability to have faith for my own life is quite slim because I know “me”. This is why we are here – for each other. Heard this yesterday: “Put the word Vigilance in place of Fear”. This may possibly take the sting away and bring some relief in your focus. We all need the Lord with “skin on” in our lives. People who bring the best out of us, not the negative. My prayer is this for you, that someone will show HIS love and you will sense that mercy for yourself.
Elizabeth,
Praying that God will give you hope. A good discerning heart to know His will for your life and the mind of Christ saturated with Godly wisdom to take every thought captive that is not in obedience to His word. Also taking away your fears and stressors, leaving you with strength and protection for your days. May you know and fell the ultimate and unsurpassed love of God!
Blessings 🙂
Elizabeth-Anne,
You are not the token train wreck. If you peeled back the layers of each of these women here, I know you would reveal pain, shame, regret, fear, anxiety and a whole host of other maladies. We are all a mess. That’s why I am so thankful to have a Savior who is “mindful of our frame…He know we are but dust.” Our imperfections continually remind us just how much we need HIM to make us whole. Be easy on yourself sister. Praying God’s love upon you.
Bev xx
Hello dear Bev,
About a year ago, I set myself a task and that was to read the Bible from first to last word, whether I understood what I was reading or not, whether I had more questions at the end than when I started or not, but by golly, I was going to do it.
I did it.
When I finished I was scared to death. I did not want to be Mrs Lot, or a resident of Jericho, or perhaps one of Gommorah. I did not want to be the one told ‘ Get behind me Satan ‘ or ‘ ye of little faith ‘, or I never knew you’ or worst of all , ‘ if you loved me, you’d follow my commandments/teachings ‘ Because I know despite good intentions, I do not love my neighbor as myself when thata neighbor treats me like trash, hurts me deeply or steals money from me. I get angry all the time at the unfairness of life, and there is a part that says getting angry is the same as killing someone or something along those lines ( bottom line getting angry is a BAD BAD thing, and I do it never endingly ). I am divorced, another strike. 2 abortions, more strikes.
I want so much to believe in a kind, merciful Lord, who gives us broken down people some slack, we do what we can, but our childhoods messed us up so badly, we are lucky to get thru the day at all, let alone doing everything a Christian is supposed to do.
My only hope is that the Lord realizes that I have been a psych patient for decades, have a number of diagnosis’s which has allowed me to be on SS disability, that I take 4 psychotropic meds a day, and understands that His level of goodness and perfection is so so hard for me, and that my charity work, my generosity to others, being helpful when I can, saving animals, can somehow make up for the gazillion other shortcomings that I have. This is the reason I fear death so much.
Elizabeth-Anne,
God’s not sitting up there with a checklist, checking off the things you do or think or say in the “good” column or the”bad” column.
God looks at your heart. Is your heart inclined toward Him, with a desire to please Him and walk according to His will? Or is your heart hardened against Him and inclined toward pleasing yourself and the world? From what you write here it’s pretty clear that you have a heart for God. As long as that’s true, God is going to be patient with you. He does see your circumstances. He knows how your brain functions and the challenges you face. He’s given you the Holy Spirit to help you and comfort you. Your part is to stay yielded to the Holy Spirit as He works in you to strengthen and heal you and transform you from the inside out into the woman God intends for you to become. It’s not something that happens overnight. It’s a lifelong process. God IS patient with you, and you need to be patient with yourself. When you stumble-and you will. We all do–get back up, repent, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you keep going. Take it one day at a time. Forget the past, knowing that you ARE forgiven, and don’t worry about the future–it’s in God’s hands. Just focus on getting through THIS day, and know that God loves you, and loves your heart for Him.
Well stated. I always believe I’m the token train wreck! Not much seems to go my way, but everyone around me flourishes, it seems.
Thankfully, I have had a revelation; God really did send His Son, as ransom, because He loved us all so very much.
Instead of thinking He is a cruel dictator, expecting the outrageous superhuman Christianity from each of us, I realize now that God understands that we are sinners, and we need Him! The church was built up for sinners, and He is so merciful!
What if we understood that Christ WAS, in fact, the gift of Christmastime? He was sent to save us from our sins, so we may see heaven. Man, tgat’s awesome!
Bev, this actually made tears spring to my eyes- Jesus’ strong hands holding us, the same hands that held the nails. What love, and what power. Thanks for this image!
Sarah,
When I’m hurting…it helps me to visualize Him holding me like that….it’s my “safe” place. Your writing has obviously touched some tender places in people’s hearts.
Blessings,
Bev
Dear Elizabeth-Anne,
You said it perfectly….God’s level of goodness and perfection is too hard for me…for us. EXACTLY. God gave His people the Law and you know what they did…they royally screwed up. Even David, who God called a man after his own heart, was an adulterer and murderer among a lot of other things. People broke the law in small ways and in HUGE ways. Regardless of whether it was small or huge…they broke the Law and that was sin which didn’t leave them being good enough or holy enough.
That’s exactly why God had to give us Jesus. He needed someone…His Son to fulfill the law for us because He knew we’d never get it right on our own. Jesus took ALL our sins upon Him on the cross. He took ALL your sins upon Him ALL of them. As far as the east is from the west – that’s how far your sins have been removed from you. They are in the bottom of the sea and God sees you Elizabeth-Anne through the blood of His son, Jesus. Believe it or not…He sees you as PERFECT!! Not because of what you do, but because of what Christ did for you.
So what does God want us to do in response to His fulfilling the law through his Son…He wants us to walk in FREEDOM. Carrying guilt for our past sins is NOT what He wants. I am one who wants to pick up my sins and carry them around, but I have to camp out on Romans 8:1….THEREFORE THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. If you have asked Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior then you are IN CHRIST> you are seen as perfect. All your sins have been washed away. No more striving and earning needed.
As for the mental illness. It affects how we see God and stirs up lies in us – often easier than it does in the average person. When you get those thoughts…hold them up to God’s loving character. (A God who sacrificed his one and only Son is loving). If the lies you hear in your head don’t match up with Truth found in the Bible then you need to try to throw those lies out and cling to the truth. I encourage you to google scriptures that talk about God’s loving character and meditate on those. If God said it in His word – He really means it. But meditate on the Truths of His Love, His forgiveness, His lovingkindness. He understands your mental illness better than you do and He still says, after knowing it all, Elizabeth-Anne, you are my precious daughter in whom I delight. I LOVE YOU!!! I will be praying for you!!
Blessings and peace to you sweet sister. You are a new creation…the old is gone in His eyes.
Bev xx
I too, visualize, and then can feel Christ holding me when I just can’t take any more.
Elizabeth-Anne, oh sister, I have been where you are in many ways and understand how hard it is to see the Lord as a loving Father who longs to lavish mercy and grace, peace and love on us. Bev and Stephanie are right in that He knows so much more than we and that we are all broken and you are never alone for Jesus is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. Let Him touch you in the fear for He will bring power, love, and a sound mind. It is a beautiful grace that you still reach for Him despite the fears that you see Him through-trust He will bring goodness out of this, He whom the waves obey. Praying sweet sister that you know His love and peace today; we are here taking each step with you-you will be okay 🙂
Elizabeth-Anne, thank you so much for your authenticity here. I hear your heart and completely understand your fears- I too, worry about worst-case scenarios. Just a few months ago, I went to see a doctor about some things I noticed in my body and sure enough, at 33, was diagnosed with cancer. The Lord has taught me so much about his goodness, faithfulness, and presence through it though- even if I had to have some honest, angry, and worried conversations with Him about what this would mean for my life. All that to say- I GET IT. I hope that you really truly take the time to read through what these loving women have written to you and that whenever you feel alone, unsure, stuck, that you come back and read their words. Like the paralyzed man, let these women carry you to the feet of Jesus. I can assure you- having had some worst fears come to pass as well- that God is still good and that there is nothing that you can do or that can happen that can make him love you less. He loves you so, dear one.
Oh Sarah, I do hope you are getting better. 33 is the absolute prime of a woman’s life, and the battle against cancer is a daunting one. Even though this is not a true story, it is true for millions around the world who go thru it. I saw the old Julia Roberts film the other day called ‘ Dying Young ‘ and the scenes where she helps her patient, who then becomes her boyfriend later in the film, cope with chemo makes tears fall like rain, for both of them. Him for having to endure it, and her having to watch it and help.
I love being here, everyone has been so lovely to me, I have never in my whole life been in a place where every single solitary comment directed at me, was kind.
Absolutely amazing. ..your gift is making more room for you!
Stopped by here for a quick read before addressing the garden-laundry-dishes-sundaydinnerplanning-blogwriting haystack of a Saturday that’s pressing in on me, and SO glad that I did. I’ll be sure to put some breathing spaces between those tasks in order to rejoice in the sun and the light and the love.
Blessings to you today!
That actually sounds like a delightful Saturday! Hope it was life-giving and that you were able to accomplish everything you wanted to!
Sarah,
This is beautiful…and yes, I walk through anxiety filled episodes off and on. Having an anxiety disorder – it comes with the territory. But, like you so wonderfully pointed out, God is not there in our anxiety-infused imaginings of the future. When the future comes, with whatever it may hold, there…then…in that moment, God’s grace will be with me/us. I’ve experienced it enough times that I know I can count on God to stand guard and be present in those future moments that sometimes get filled with anxiety.
How true, as you say, that no matter how long the night, the sun always rises. God’s promise is that He will walk with me THROUGH the dark valleys. He will not leave me stuck there. Knowing I can count on God’s faithful promises – that He is true to His Word, gives me peace when the turbulent waves of anxiety begin to swell. Also knowing that He is right there in the crucible of pain, gives me hope to wait out the storm in His presence. Thank you for a wonderfully reassuring post!
Blessings,
Bev
Beautifully put! Thank you and blessings to you!
Amen, Bev. This has been a life-giving revelation to me (though I grew up with the knowledge my whole life, it has struck me afresh and anew recently)- the power of God’s with-ness. Immanuel, Christ with us, always.
Thank you for this post! I am going through a long hard season now and learning more and more everyday about myself and God. You are so right about God knowing how one day is all we can handle at a time. Thank you for the reminder that the sun always rises!
It’s such a hard thing to do- to just remain in this day- but I find as I train my eyes on his more, he helps me to stay here and just take it one day at a time. Praying that you feels God’s presence through this difficult season you’re in.
Sarah, this is beautiful. So many of my own thoughts captured so beautifully in your own words. I’m feeling blessed that I stopped by today.
Thank you for sharing this. We are walking through a hard season. Our home in Louisiana was one of the many that recently flooded. But we know that He is with us and sees us right now in this moment. He gives grace each day.
Wow, Alicia, that is so hard. Life can change so, so quickly. I will continue to pray for you as you continue down the long road of recovery and rebuilding life there.
I say this prayer sometimes maybe 100 times a day.
Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind, strengthen my will so that may do what is pleasing to you for the good of my salvation.
Come Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind, strengthen my will so that I may do what is pleasing to you for the good of my salvation.
Gods timing is always perfect. Going through a season of loss and the weight of tomorrow keeps trying to take my today away. Thank you for being a beautiful instrument of His love. Beautifully written and anointed always hits hearts/spirit.
Thank you for this – I needed this today! If only I could keep it in the forefront of my mind. I so quickly pick up all the worries once again and then the anxiety is there again. So I whisper the name of Jesus….again, and again, and again – as often as it takes!
Those “some things you are sure if”? I am sure of too, but sometimes I forget. Thank you for reminding me…
Sarah, thanks so much for this hope-filled message!
I loved the reminder that, “if only I have eyes to see (so important where I keep my gaze) grace saturates each day (loved this) and carries us thru the good, hard, mess & chaos.
So thankful for our gentle, caring Savior Who carries us thru!
” For He is our Peace,” (Eph. 2:14).
Sarah, this is beautiful. I’m going through a season of uncertainty right now. There are times when I feel invisible & unlovable. This season has been trying…but God has something greater planned for me. Even in my darkest hour, He allows a gentle ray of sunlight to pierce through the darkness. Surrendering. ..I have to die to my flesh everyday. He’s teaching me patience as I wait for His plans to unfold. God’s love is incredible, unstoppable, the greatest love of all…His love wins…always wins.
Graham, such beautiful words of encouragement from the Lord-He does always win as we die to the flesh. He sees you, dear sister, His eye is always on the least sparrow and we see you too 🙂 Praying that He strengthens you today 🙂
An, thanks for the encouraging words. Be Blessed always, my sister!
Graham, hearing your faith as you talk about a difficult time strengthens my faith. You are bearing witness to the miracle God is working out in you and you are a beautiful example of his never stopping, never-giving-up love. Keep looking for those rays of sunshine, sister. The dawn is coming.
God spoke to me while reading this (in)courage. I work with the public school system and start work on Monday after two months of we’ll needed summer holidays. Last school year had me stressing to the point of having to take a leave for awhile. I will be saving this (in)courage for the times that WILL come when I need to remember that “God is good now and will be then.”
Yes, sister! It has been such a revelation to me to deeply know and believe that he is good now and will be good then. Our circumstances might change, but his goodness never does. Stand on that truth if it starts to get difficult again. XO
This post is so timely for me. I’m going through the bleakest financial time as an adult. At times, I feel abandoned by God. All I think about is money and how we’re going to pay for [fill in the blank]. I complain like the Israelites receiving their manna, appreciative for my daily bread, but wishing I had a larger share so I could relax about the days ahead.
I appreciate Sarah sharing her feeling of paralysis…yes, I get that, especially in the middle of the night, if I wake, my first thoughts are oppressive ones. Lately, as soon as I open my eyes, I cry out to Jesus before any other thought comes into my head and derails me. And thank you for pointing out that our worries “don’t show God’s presence covering me.” It’s true, and a comfort.
I posted another comment before but didn’t want to make it too long with this additional thought about anxiety:
Last week, the Lord led me to Luke 21:34. Jesus says, “”Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.”
I stayed with that much of that day….I was astonished that Jesus categorizes anxiety in the same breath as carousing and drunkenness, I guess because all 3 dull our minds and hearts to His power and grace–and perhaps even create a chasm between us and Him. Anxiety is just a part of who I am, how I’m made, but I see I have a choice to continually lay it down, surrender it.
Lou, thank you for sharing this struggle and truth. I have the a similar issue in the morning and we have to choose to surrender to Him and keep ourselves so present to the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord for this gift of your words 🙂
It is so easy to let tomorrow’s worries rob us of today’s beauty!
There are so many rich nuggets of truth in your words today, I know you will encourage many!
Amen! Thanks, Kathy.
Sarah, I praise the Lord for His grace in your words and all the beautiful replies, the sharing. The Lord is so good and I have days where it is so hard to keep my mind and sight vigilantly fixed on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith. He graces us so much with His love and always knows what we need in the storms. May we seek the One who is peace in all things as we walk with Him and each other, trusting that He brings such goodness out of it all as He loves us home 🙂
Thank you, Sarah. Needed this… My brother’s death anniversary today.
Oh gosh, Pearl. Praying for you right now. My best friend also lost her brother, so I have the faintest sense of how that has altered your life and the pain of what this day is for you. It does make you long for heaven in a new way as we look forward to when all pain will be gone and things will be restored, doesn’t it? May you feel a sense of peace today and may you feel the powerful arms of our loving and present Jesus surround you today.
Sarah…sister? Thank you so much for your prayer and kind words. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. May God bless you, keep you, and make his face shine upon you in your own “hard” as I know sharing jewels of truth and comfort come from hard won battles. Hugs!
This this the spot.
I am currently going through a difficult time at work. It brings me headaches and even heartache. The day before yesterday I hit rock bottom with worried and distress. I must of flooded heaven with all of my tears. Yesterday, I was able to leave work early. When I came home I took a long shower to feel refreshed then I made myself a cup of tea and I sat on my sofa next to my window, feeling the warmth of the sun. Pondering. Thinking. Reasoning.
As I was looking at my window I begged God to give me the grace to get through it. I didn’t want to worry anymore. I didn’t want to reason anymore. All of my “great ideas” had brought me nothing but troubles. Then He reminded me that there is nothing I can do about yesterday. He is the Great I AM and even though He is out of time and He was there yesterday, He is here today and will be there tomorrow- I am not to worry about tomorrow. I am here, right now. But where was his peace?
I came across John 14:27 AMPC “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
Then as if my eyes were open I realized I have a choice. I had to choose. And I am choosing His way. I pushed my mind to focus on Him. I stopped allowing myself. I will not permit myself to drown in sorrow anymore. I pushed aside all of those “what if’s” and “I will react/do/say this” when/if the situation arises. As you said, situation(s) that were nowhere but in my head.
This morning I felt the thoughts coming to my head, thoughts of worried and fear, but I pushed them aside remembering that peace is mine as a gift from Him and all I need do is dwell within Him to get it. I will continue do so until He gets me through this chaos.
Thank you for sharing. This is a way God encouraged me TODAY. His grace is new EVERY DAY.
So encouraging to read this, Mariella. My husband and I went through a very difficult work-related season with a corrupt and unkind boss of his and I was wasting so much energy being angry, spiteful, anxious over it and one day the Lord led me to Exodus 14:14 : The Lord Himself will fight for you, you need only to be still. Amen, right? From that point on, it has served as a reminder that it is not my job to do the fighting, that belongs to him. It is my job to keep my eyes on him as I seek to find his peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, self-control and this has brought me so much freedom! Thanks for this encouraging note.
We have been in a horrible hard time with our son for the past 6 years (he is now 22) with drugs and the stress of it has been very hard on our marriage. But God has been with us through every step and I have had trust that God was watching over our son and all would eventually work out. I believe we are now being rewarded for “staying the course” as our son is changing his life around (I remain very guarded still) but I know that God is working and He has a plan. Each day I get up I try to take one day at a time because that is all we have because God know we cannot handle any more than that, because we are not God. I am letting God do His work, not only in my son, but in my own life, trying to listen to Him in every day hard. And I know He is listening and He understands me…..and He always, always, gives me grace. Today, I am blessed and will also remember to leave some space between my Saturday “busy-ness”. Thank you for this post – I needed it again as a reminder.
Your post is perfectly timed, Sarah. Yesterday I finished (prayerfully FOREVER) 10 months of chemotherapy to treat a bone marrow disorder. Last night, like most nights lately, was long and difficult. But, the sun outside is shining beautifully again this morning. The Son inside of me is also ever faithfully present, giving me strength for my weakness. Every imaginable question, doubt, fear, and anxiety has crossed my mind while walking through this valley season. But, ALWAYS faithful, never once has Jesus left my side! His promises are true and His grace IS sufficient. Upcoming weeks hold many more questions and unpleasant tests to determine what’s next (possibly a bone marrow transplant), so I try hard not to let my mind linger. Instead, I remind myself of all God has already done; I remind myself of every promise He has graciously already fulfilled; I remind myself of every need He has generously provided, and I (try to) rest in the shelter of Almighty God. He never promised that this life would be easy, but He promises that He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. He promises that His plans for us are for good and not for evil, to give us hope for the future. This world and this life, with all its troubles, are temporary. Firsthand, I am learning 2 Corinthians 4:18, to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” May we be lights shining brightly in the darkness until time meets eternity. Thank you for you post! This blog continues to be an encouragement to my heart and soul.
Oh Lisa, sweet sister, Jesus is so very fond of you. He has asked you to run a difficult race and you are running the race marked out for you with such grace, such hope and trust in him that you are just shouting of our good Father’s love for us. Well done, good and faithful servant. Yes, in the most difficult of circumstances, let’s still keep our eyes on him. He is so good.
Sarah,
These past two years I have walked through hard seasons and dealt with worry. I learned nothing is to hard for God! He will bring you through the trial and make you a strong better person. During this time my husband also had worries and trouble sleeping. Amazingly while I couldn’t calm my self down-I quoted this to him “has God every let you down?” “He’s always been there for us no matter what.” Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” He not only got us through those trials He did a miracle for us also!–The Sun Rose Again!!!
Blessings 🙂
This makes me think of one of my favorite worship songs right now- you need to look it up if you haven’t heard it yet. It’s called “King of My Heart” by Sarah McMillan. There’s a powerful part of the song that repeats “You’re never gonna let, never gonna let me down…”. I sob every single time I listen to it.
Faith believes whatever God promises is possible and He promises us to be with us always. I have to keep believing that in all the disappointments with a daughter that every word said is a battle, that God is a God of peace and He will make me the mother He wants me to be. I stand on God’s word for The word says” He will perfect that which concernth me”. My son is delivered from the addictions that plagues his life. Faith moves mountains if we believe. i believe it is done, and it is finished!
Amen, Darcell!!
Ladies you are great.You are an inspiration to me . May God bless you all with peace ”that surpasses all understanding”
The fear and worry that I felt never changed anything. It didn’t make it better or worse, it just made me feel worse. It was a vicious cycle until I decided to give it all to my Lord. Doesn’t mean that I learned my lesson-I struggle again and again, but at least I know that I have a choice- let Him have it or make myself miserable.
One thing I learned in hard times is that no matter how bad things are Jesus understands. He was human once. He felt rejection, anger, fear, pain, betrayal, unjust accusations, abuse, and death. He knows what hurt and pain and sorrow are and feel like. So when I feel my worst I know he can sympathize. But not only sympathize, he went through much worse. He was perfect and deserved none of his suffering and death and anger heaped upon him. And yet he experienced it all and went through it for us all. That always cheers me up and puts things in perspective for me. He knows, cares, sympathizes, and understands, because he has gone through the worst so he could show his perfect love.
I’ve found myself in the midst of some hard stuff. In fact, the past two whole years have been hard. So when one more hard thing happens, I fall apart and crumble. I cry and worry and try to hold it in and figure it out all myself while supposedly trusting God to take care of it. You said it so beautifully in that when I worry and fret and fall apart it is because “my imaginings don’t show God’s presence covering me.” Such a lovely thought, a beautiful picture that I want to remember in my anxiety filled moments – just to envision God’s presence settling down over me and my beautiful people surrounding us in peace and security.
Thank you for writing about the “hard stuff.”