Pain and Grief

I know that I've written about grief recently and as much as I hate to dwell on it there seems to be so much of it going around right now.  I also know that God has promised us that we need not worry about anything because he is always there.  Nothing He has planned for us is designed to bring us pain.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, " plans to prosper you; plans for hope and for a future."    - Jesus (Jeremiah 29:11). 

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”                    — Jesus  (Matthew 6:26).

And yet we seem to feel pain all around us.  It's so hard to not scream out to God. To demand an explanation from him.  Why God must we lose loved ones too early?  Why must we see so much sickness and pain? Why must we feel as if we're never going to get ahead of the debt? 


It's in those times that God hopes we'll draw closer to him.  It's in those times that He intends to carry the burden for us... if we'll allow. 

Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I'm your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
Cause nothing else can take your place
To feel the warmth of your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to you

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know you are near

                -Michael W. Smith (Draw Me Close)

We have a choice in these times.  Draw nearer to Him. Trust Him to comfort our pain and to 
take care of us. Or to turn away and slowly die inside.

“the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans8:26).

 As I continue to feel the losses myself...as I see friends feel the losses... I try to pray without ceasing. I try to "Trust in the Lord with all of my heart..." (Proverbs 3:5)

Sunshine and Flip Flops

Those who know me well, know that I try to be positive....

           when it comes to this snow and cold, I'm totally and completely OVER IT!!

This has been a difficult winter for us here in Indiana. Lots Too much snow and bitter cold temperatures day after day after day after day.... you get the drift right?!  It's Thursday and this is the first week in 2 months that we've gone to school an entire week without any disturbances.  We've had either a snow day or 2 hour delay every week since the first week in January (when we actually missed the entire first week back from Winter Break due to snow!)  I'm beginning to worry that I won't have a summer break if this winter doesn't end soon.

I need FLIP FLOPS...
     
     I need SUNSHINE....

            I need WARMTH....

I try not to ask too much God, and I try to remind myself that you never intend to harm us.  Everything we experience in this world (including the snow) happens for a reason and even though I don't always know the reason it's part of your plan.   I usually try to be more thankful than I am anything else... and I am thankful that you've given me another day to be blessed and bless others.  I'm thankful that my eyes opened this morning and that my heat was working in my house and that I have food to eat and warm clothes to wear.  I'm thankful that my car runs and that my kids are healthy and that my paycheck goes in on Friday

     BUT

          If it's in your plan, would you mind sending us a little more sunshine?  Would you mind bringing the temperatures up to or above freezing?  That's it, God! Sounds simple enough to me, what do you think?