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)

Keeping the Faith

Do you ever have one of those days where it  just feels like it's too much? You know,  that day when it seems that nothing is going right and you wish you could just crawl back into bed and hide under the covers?!  We all have those kind of days every now and again, but it's the way we decide to deal with it that really shows who and what we are...

When it seems like the walls  are caving in, God gives us some great words of wisdom to lean on.  My favorite verse to remember is this:

              "For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to           harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Or Philippians 4:13 which reminds that "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."

Psalm 29:11 " The Lord gives strength to his people; The Lord 

blesses his people with peace."

I'm definitely  not saying that I never get discouraged or throw my own pity party (heck NO, I'd be lying to you!) What I'm saying is that I have to remind myself and work at keeping my trust in The Lord ! Remember that He is always looking out for me and for my best interest.  Despite my failures and my weaknesses he loves me SOOO much! Hallelujah,  now that's something to shout about!

So as many of us continue to be cursing  enjoying this winter cold, snow and ice and dark gloomy days I ask that we take a moment to remember that God is always in Control! He's always planning what's best for us and even in the tough days he's walking right there beside us!

What is my settled pattern?

So I didn't go to church this morning, but instead I did my own reading. 2 Corinthians 10 says that we either walk in the flesh or we walk on the Spirit and both of these paths denotes a settled pattern.

What are some of the patterns that I've gotten into? This walk is along a long road and the journey has many bumps along the way, but it's imperative that we continue walking...and in the right direction.  I know that there are many patterns that I've gotten into that are making a turn down another road and I also know that I've gotten lazy  and stopped walking to find myself just sitting under a shade tree and enjoying the view without being in it.  God asks that we trust in Him and follow Him and he's given us the directions in His Word.

Today, I pray that I will not settle and instead I will deliberately follow God down the road that he has directed me down.