There have been many times in my life that I walk into something with a positive attitude & it doesn't end in a positive stance. With that being said, it doesn't mean that it was a worthless experience, void of new understanding or strengthening of our walk with our Lord & Savior. I believe half of my learning comes with the fear that when something goes completely wrong, it will never be right again or not as it once was. Fear of change whether it be in health, progress or relationships & the letting go of what I was comfortable with appears to hinder me sometimes from the looking forward to of future comfort, happiness, & change.
'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41;10-13
I remember as a younger person, I looked forward to exciting changes, new things, new faces, especially meeting new relatives since we moved to my family's home territory when I was young. All was new and exciting until the new became old. As a youth, we can always find new exciting things to replace the old with much zeal & anticipation. As we mature, the zeal oftentimes subsides. As a Christian Isaiah 41;10-13 should be written on our hearts, foreheads, on the tip of our tongue at a moment's thought of distress but sadly it has not always been in my private experience. I forget when I'm in the beginning stages, right before things grow to it's worst & I am encouraged to hide in the trenches with nothing but hope to bring me through. It's when I'm the trenches that I hope in faith & allow our Lord to do His work in those around me & in me. I stop resisting, usually with well deserved guilt for my actions in the beginning stages but not to live in self-condemnation. We are His children & He knows our hearts thoroughly. He is helping us in love through all stages of our walk, whether in doubt, fear, or grappling with truth in our inner self. He smiles when we finally get His message & He loves us through it all. His correction, instruction is because He loves His children & knew beforehand the struggles we'd endure.
To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Eph.1;1-6 (This whole chapter springs to mind on His love for us)
*NOTE : I usually do not use the common Bible scriptures most would use to emphasize a point. I use what my personal take away is of my experiences. If I quote a partial chapter, my intentions are for my readers to look the whole chapter up and read in it's entirety.
Whatever storm you are in be rest assured that God is there with you through it all. My struggles are much like a person being thrown overboard into the tempestuous sea. I fight with all 'my' might until it overtakes me then I withdraw, calmly in Him until it has come to pass. It's the times I'm fighting without Him that bring me great sorrow. I walk without faith in these times and in my flesh, causing more agony, poor actions & the ugly of me to surface when it doesn't need to happen this way. I don't do this with all things. Our Lord has taught me through past experiences in some of these areas to remember He's there as I went through them & my family has went through them. It's truly a "One Day At A Time" lesson for me & I'm sure others too. The main thing is remembering the lessons, the beauty, the good things that are introduced through these tempestuous times & to pray so you won't let go of Him during those beginning stages because God doesn't let go of you when you are suffering. It is then that He is right by your side working his miracles.
When will it end? Remember, we live in a fallen world & there will always be new days to face, new struggles, new revelations, & we are called to be ready for them by staying in His care, reading His instruction & following Him. We aren't perfect but He has made a way for us through our Savior Jesus Christ who covers our sins in Him.
I am slightly better in this struggle this day. I've came a long ways in handing my burdens to God through the years. We come slowly sometimes, learning as each burden unfolds. My hope for all who are burdened is they rest it by placing their sorrows, pain, matters in God's care.
I hope this has blessed you in some way. God loves you & so do I. Don't forget to kneel in prayer, study His word, spend quiet time with Him. Vacation from the world. Love God by trusting Him fully & understand that when you are grappling with the burdens (no matter what they are), He loves you as you are and is molding you into a new person in His likeness. Praise God for His mercy in forgiveness with His perfect understanding.
( This may be a blogging day for me while I wait for an important call, I'd rather be in Him as I grapple with another burden set before me while resting in Him. I will not forget His promises to guide me into His healing in my restoration of my heart.)
Praise God his burden is easy and his yoke is light!
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