Psalm 119:28 "My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word."
Over and over in the scriptures we are given truths about what we should do with our fears, anxieties, sorrows, worries, challenges, doubts..... Laying them down and trusting in the One we have put our faith and trust in, Almighty God, comes so easily for me. I love the amazing feeling of unburdening myself at the foot of the cross. Pouring out all of my cares and begging God to relieve me of them and the struggles they cause in my walk. Opening up and weeping over the sin in my life and knowing He is faithful to hear and answer my prayers. Sometimes (most often) not exactly in my timing or in my chosen way, but always I believe according to His best and His will.
But...many days I feel like I am on a treadmill of sorts walking the same five feet over and over again. All of my own choosing. Even though I have made my prayerful and earnest requests known to my Lord and Savior who has promised me His constant and abiding love, fear and worry begin to creep back in. Philippians 4:16 tells me "Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God". I know He cares. I know He hears. I believe in His promises. But I fear the day's unfolding events. They are completely out of my control. I worry about the unknown. I play the outcomes over and over in my mind until it just becomes too much for me to bear and I find myself back at the foot of the cross looking for comfort and understanding. Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own". One day at a time.
1 Peter 5:10 promises me that "..the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast". Not in my time frame or on my time table. In my humanness I want comfortable. I want a life of happiness and contentment. The real problem is that I find myself accepting the happiness that the world extends and begin to believe that will fill my emptiness and help with my struggles. In reality I need joy and that can only come from walk with my Lord. He has to be enough in the good times but also in the dark times of struggle. His abiding love is the only true healing salve for our wounds of unhappiness, grief, hurt, discontent, suffering....
I will cling to that truth and look to Him for my strength in times of trials in my daily walk because 1 Peter 5:7 tells me to "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you". I am so thankful that He cares about my needs but also my desires. No judgement - just His grace. I want to lay everything down, believe in His truths and trust His best for me in every challenge that comes my way.
So I choose to step off my treadmill of unbelief and doubt and choose to embrace His Word for what it is- the Truth and rest there in His peace and comfort.
It all comes down to this..."Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." Psalm 51:12
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
When I Struggle to See The Light.....
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8-12
It is abundantly clear to me that our sins are removed from our Savior's mind yet they continue to rear their ugly heads and cause us to stumble. How is it that if Almighty God himself can cast them as far as the east is from the west and choose to never revisit them that we believe it is our responsibility to keep them present? Is it our pride that won't allow us to believe that forgiveness is complete? Or is it just the lack of faith that pushes us back into the darkness of unbelief and despair?
Sin hinders our relationship with our Savior. Not just because we fail to repent, but rather that we choose to remain captive to the power it holds over our hearts. When we go to God with our sin He is faithful always to forgive it. There is nothing more He wants for and from us than a restored relationship with Him. The love He has for us is ever present...never diminished and never faltering. It is complete and full. Our love for Him however can often dwindle because of our struggle to see Him in difficulties.
Therein lies the issue of the body taking care of itself. When we are struggling with a certain area in our walk, God will send comfort and strength in ways we never expect. Sometimes that comes in the form of just sitting alone with Him and meditating on His truths. Other times it may come from a brother or sister in the Body who He sends to minister to us. Either way, God is at the heart of it all or it is useless. He knows us individually and personally and only He can supply our need. His way.
It is easy to become heavy hearted and burdened for those we love who are struggling. Often it becomes too much for our hearts to bear and we also begin to struggle along with them. This doesn't need to be our default. I admit....it can be mine. But if I believe that "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love", then I need to believe it fully and without hesitation.
1John 1:5 says "This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." I have to keep my eyes on Jesus and His light will guide my path just where I need to go even in my despair. He is faithful to the end. My struggles need to be released to Him and allow Him to make all things new. His ways are perfect, His timing perfect, His forgiveness perfect, His love perfect and never ending. Praise God!
It all comes down to this..."Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. " Romans 8:1-2 I am free indeed!
It is abundantly clear to me that our sins are removed from our Savior's mind yet they continue to rear their ugly heads and cause us to stumble. How is it that if Almighty God himself can cast them as far as the east is from the west and choose to never revisit them that we believe it is our responsibility to keep them present? Is it our pride that won't allow us to believe that forgiveness is complete? Or is it just the lack of faith that pushes us back into the darkness of unbelief and despair?
Sin hinders our relationship with our Savior. Not just because we fail to repent, but rather that we choose to remain captive to the power it holds over our hearts. When we go to God with our sin He is faithful always to forgive it. There is nothing more He wants for and from us than a restored relationship with Him. The love He has for us is ever present...never diminished and never faltering. It is complete and full. Our love for Him however can often dwindle because of our struggle to see Him in difficulties.
Therein lies the issue of the body taking care of itself. When we are struggling with a certain area in our walk, God will send comfort and strength in ways we never expect. Sometimes that comes in the form of just sitting alone with Him and meditating on His truths. Other times it may come from a brother or sister in the Body who He sends to minister to us. Either way, God is at the heart of it all or it is useless. He knows us individually and personally and only He can supply our need. His way.
It is easy to become heavy hearted and burdened for those we love who are struggling. Often it becomes too much for our hearts to bear and we also begin to struggle along with them. This doesn't need to be our default. I admit....it can be mine. But if I believe that "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love", then I need to believe it fully and without hesitation.
1John 1:5 says "This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." I have to keep my eyes on Jesus and His light will guide my path just where I need to go even in my despair. He is faithful to the end. My struggles need to be released to Him and allow Him to make all things new. His ways are perfect, His timing perfect, His forgiveness perfect, His love perfect and never ending. Praise God!
It all comes down to this..."Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. " Romans 8:1-2 I am free indeed!
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