"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. " -Psalm 84:5-6
Lately I have been in a "desert season," a season that caused me to shed many tears in anguish. In this season I have only been able to stand and walk through it, because the Lord is my strength. My heart is set on pilgrimage...I am dead set on reaching the other side of this season of trials...I am dead set on victory...and it has been the death of me...the death of self.
I have found myself in the Valley of Baca. The word Baca literally means "weeping." One thing that the Lord has used to strengthen me is that I know my tears are not shed in vain. Psalm 56:8 says, "You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; [Are they] not in Your book?" God knows every tear I've cried and I know He will use them for good (Rom. 8:28). How do I know? Besides seeing this truth time and again, He has brought someone into my life that has walked where I am walking now. Her tears shed in the desert have become a spring. And God is using her tears to refresh me in this dry season of trials.
There is something incredibly comforting when you know that the person you are talking to knows what you are going through. Sometimes a look is all it takes for her to know exactly what's going on and there is something so refreshing in that. God "comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." -2 Cor. 1:4 The fact that God can take the desert places of our lives and turn them into pools of refreshment for those that will one day walk the same desert plane, gives me courage and strength to continue on.
Thank You Lord that You never leave nor forsake us. Thank You that You use all things for good. Thank You that you can take, what may seem like wasted tears, and turn them into refreshment for others. Thank You that we do not walk alone. And thank You for Your sweet comfort that refreshes the weary traveler.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Beyond the Shore
Anchor. Another reoccurring theme. In a season when I am being tossed by the sea, the shore of singleness is the closest shore, yet God is gently whispering, "Be Still." He knows what is across this sea of trials. He knows each wave that crashes down on me and threatens to take me under. He knows I have been guilty of looking back and crying, "Did you bring us out of Egypt to die?" Yet He also knows what the result will be of my remaining in Him during this storm. He knows what fruit will one day be harvested, as a result of this painful season of plowing, and He deems it worth it.
Last night the sermon was on anchoring deeper into Christ. The depth of our anchor reveals the depth of our trust in Christ. I have SLOWLY been learning to trust Him. He has been so patient and sweet with this fearful child. Yet now He asks me to toss it all over board and wait for Him to calm the storm, and steer my ship to the other side. How deep is my anchor? I will only survive if I throw my anchor completely over. An anchor let down only part way will only leave the ship vulnerable. The security comes with the complete submersion of the anchor. So I must submerse myself COMPLETELY in Christ, or I will not weather this storm.
To commit to remain in the midst of this storm seems absolutely ridiculous. Yet, that is what the Lord does ask of me. Remain still, cease striving and wait for Him to act.
Psalm 46:5
"God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns."
Though the darkness of night remains, when morning does come, so will my loving Father...to rescue His waiting child, who has been strengthened by the storm.
Thank You Lord that You see the end result and deem the trial worth it. Thank You that You are my Anchor; that which strengthens me and brings fruit in due season. Thank You for trusting me with these trials, may I be found faithful. Amen.
Last night the sermon was on anchoring deeper into Christ. The depth of our anchor reveals the depth of our trust in Christ. I have SLOWLY been learning to trust Him. He has been so patient and sweet with this fearful child. Yet now He asks me to toss it all over board and wait for Him to calm the storm, and steer my ship to the other side. How deep is my anchor? I will only survive if I throw my anchor completely over. An anchor let down only part way will only leave the ship vulnerable. The security comes with the complete submersion of the anchor. So I must submerse myself COMPLETELY in Christ, or I will not weather this storm.
To commit to remain in the midst of this storm seems absolutely ridiculous. Yet, that is what the Lord does ask of me. Remain still, cease striving and wait for Him to act.
Psalm 46:5
"God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns."
Though the darkness of night remains, when morning does come, so will my loving Father...to rescue His waiting child, who has been strengthened by the storm.
Thank You Lord that You see the end result and deem the trial worth it. Thank You that You are my Anchor; that which strengthens me and brings fruit in due season. Thank You for trusting me with these trials, may I be found faithful. Amen.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
ALL Things through Him
I can do all things through Him, this phrase has been coming at me in every direction for weeks now.
One of the first things that come to mind when I hear , "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Phil. 4:13 NKJV) is the beginning of this trial. I was homeless with three kids, working full time, no money for move in costs, no time to find a place and running on fumes. I was still walking with God, but talk about feeling like I had been dropped. What had happened to God providing all my needs? I was emotionally and physically exhausted.
I had my first child out of wedlock at age 18. I came to the Lord, years later married my husband and had two more children. Now I was a single mother of three. I was now worse off then when I got married and it was overwhelming. I would wake everyday and say, "God, I can't do this!" After spending time in His Word, I would muster up the strength and courage to face another day. But I was weary. Everytime I prayed for rest, sickness struck my children, which led to sleepless nights and more exhaustion. I began getting angry everytime someone said that they would pray God would give me rest. It felt like a curse for more fatigue. And I became angry at God.
One night, in my anger, I cried out to God, with a tear-stained face. He answered me ever so gently and sweetly. "If you are asking for rest and are not receiving it, then perhaps child, you are asking for the wrong thing." That was NOT what I wanted to hear, but then I pondered what He had spoken to me. If I'm asking for rest and not getting it, then what was I supposed to ask for?!?! The answer was STRENGTH.
I began asking God, each morning, for the strength I needed for the day. What a difference the right prayer can make!!! He wasn't answering my prayers for rest, because He was trying to teach me something different...He was trying to strengthen me. And when I began asking for the right thing, suddenly I had just enough strength to get through the day. YES, I went to bed wiped out every night, but I had just enough strength to get through each day.
I remember the day that I cried, "GOD, I can't do this!" after beginning to pray for His strength. This time He answered and said, "But, look, you have been." What seemed so daunting, was in fact, my daily reality. A reality I was living out...in HIS strength.
Thank You, Lord, that you never leave us. Thank You for Your provision and Your patience. Thank You for Your persistance in teaching us to be more like You. Thank You that in You we CAN do all things.
One of the first things that come to mind when I hear , "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Phil. 4:13 NKJV) is the beginning of this trial. I was homeless with three kids, working full time, no money for move in costs, no time to find a place and running on fumes. I was still walking with God, but talk about feeling like I had been dropped. What had happened to God providing all my needs? I was emotionally and physically exhausted.
I had my first child out of wedlock at age 18. I came to the Lord, years later married my husband and had two more children. Now I was a single mother of three. I was now worse off then when I got married and it was overwhelming. I would wake everyday and say, "God, I can't do this!" After spending time in His Word, I would muster up the strength and courage to face another day. But I was weary. Everytime I prayed for rest, sickness struck my children, which led to sleepless nights and more exhaustion. I began getting angry everytime someone said that they would pray God would give me rest. It felt like a curse for more fatigue. And I became angry at God.
One night, in my anger, I cried out to God, with a tear-stained face. He answered me ever so gently and sweetly. "If you are asking for rest and are not receiving it, then perhaps child, you are asking for the wrong thing." That was NOT what I wanted to hear, but then I pondered what He had spoken to me. If I'm asking for rest and not getting it, then what was I supposed to ask for?!?! The answer was STRENGTH.
I began asking God, each morning, for the strength I needed for the day. What a difference the right prayer can make!!! He wasn't answering my prayers for rest, because He was trying to teach me something different...He was trying to strengthen me. And when I began asking for the right thing, suddenly I had just enough strength to get through the day. YES, I went to bed wiped out every night, but I had just enough strength to get through each day.
I remember the day that I cried, "GOD, I can't do this!" after beginning to pray for His strength. This time He answered and said, "But, look, you have been." What seemed so daunting, was in fact, my daily reality. A reality I was living out...in HIS strength.
Thank You, Lord, that you never leave us. Thank You for Your provision and Your patience. Thank You for Your persistance in teaching us to be more like You. Thank You that in You we CAN do all things.
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