May 24, 2018

The LORD Remains Faithful

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. – Psalm 34:19

Fear and uncertainty push my buttons. How about you? Do you get upset when faced with the unknown? Do you lose hope and faith when you can’t see a way?

God reminded me recently that He can make a way when I don’t even see the beginning of the path. He told me again that He is faithful and always keeps His promises. He showed me His love. And He showed up when I needed Him most.

I sat so many days with my Bible open, finger jabbing at His words on the page. I felt a deep need to remind Him of what He’d said. I know. It’s comical. God knows the pages far better than I ever will. Still, He met me there in that place. He didn’t turn away. He held me close until I could calm down enough to see the way.

That gave me a wonderful opportunity to eat humble pie before God. Have you ever done that? Have you ever doubted God only to watch Him come through for you in ways you couldn’t begin to imagine? It’s amazing, isn’t it?

It’s not that I doubted God could make a way. He’s God. He can do anything and everything. It’s just sometimes difficult to believe that He will. I still see myself as unworthy. All those rejections from my past, all those failures, all the ugly comments hurled my way, cause me to doubt the deep love of the One who carries me through every storm.

And, still, He remains. Always. My anchor and my guide. The One who knows me best and loves me so deeply that I can’t even comprehend it. He loves you that same way too.

I have given up trying to predict what tomorrow might bring. I’ve had too many plans, too many dreams, blow up in ways I couldn’t even imagine. I’ve felt the sting of false accusations, coupled with my very real sins. Through it all, God was there.

The other day a dear friend reminded me that I need to prepare for the day when I can no longer function on my own. I don’t have anyone to look after me, she said. I didn’t need the reminder. I’ve always known that at the end of the day, it’s just me and God. There’s no one else.

I think that’s true for all of us. We count on family and friends, our pastors and medical staff, and all those who surround us with love and caring. But when the day is done, it’s just us and God. He holds us in the palm of His hand. God determines our time on this earth. God surrounds us with His love. He is the One who has promised to never leave us or abandon us.

We don’t know what the end will look like, just as we don’t know what tomorrow might bring. Life changes quickly. I don’t say that to be morbid. We should enjoy life and all of God’s blessings. But we should also realize that we’re just travelers on this earth. It’s not our home.

We belong to the One who has promised to save us from all our troubles. God knows the plans He has for us and they are good. Don’t let yourself get sidetracked by momentary troubles. Don’t become arrogant and wallow in the joys the world offers. Stay focused on God. Then, no matter what happens, be it good or bad, you’ll be okay.

January 31, 2016

One Step At A Time

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. -- Proverbs 3:5-6

It was a rough time. A loved one’s health crisis hit unexpectedly and overnight the hospital became my home. I never knew what each hour would bring. It was a tough season.

Have you ever been there?

Most of you have. I have a sweet friend gripped with cancer (again) and severe depression. Her husband stands faithfully by her side, devastated by his inability to fix this. Another friend struggles to manage health issues that make each day seem as though she has the flu.

It seems like it is always something. Finances and health issues, family drama and work stress, troubles with children and daily chores that never seem to end. Sometimes it’s difficult to know the point and purpose of it all. We’re just so weary and we don’t understand.

That is when we most need to trust God. He has a plan -- a good plan -- for each of us. He will turn whatever is happening to something good if you just turn it over to Him. His ways are not our ways. We know that. It’s just so hard to let it go and take one step at a time.

But that’s the journey of faith: One step at a time. Frequently God doesn’t lay it all out before us. He simply asks that we trust Him. He’ll reveal the path one step at a time.

It’s not always a pleasant journey. Last month a friend buried her son. This young man was stricken with cancer shortly after he graduated from high school. He fought so hard. She did too. We all expected a miracle. We are grateful he’s no longer is pain and that he is now in heaven with Jesus. His faith was rock solid. But his mother will grieve his loss for the rest of her life. How can we understand that?

We can’t. It circles right back around to faith. We know that God is good. We know that God didn’t will this horrific death for this young man but He did allow it. That’s hard. But we cling to the promises of Jesus, to the resurrection and the certainty that we’ll see this young man again.

Trust in the Lord. He will direct your paths. It’s not for us to understand. It’s for us to believe. One step at a time.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

True Friends Strengthen Us

If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. -- Ecclesiastes 4:10

Blessed is the person -- and I am one -- who have real, true friends when life is troubling and unkind. We all know many people but friends, well, that’s a different thing.

Friends listen without end and take your side when you’re under attack. They understand your hurt and pain, your troubles, and your joys. They give hugs, say prayers and join in your laughter.

True friends are trustworthy. You don’t have to worry that what you say will be repeated. That lets you be vulnerable and real. Children of God coming together to help and support one another.

I am blessed to have friends like these. And I am blessed to be part of a small group of women who have come together to know God better and to love and support one another. We didn’t plan it that way. Our intent was Bible study. Our result has been a safe place of sharing and laughter and friendship.

I have to believe that’s what God intended. I look at Jesus and His friends Mary and Martha and Lazarus. I think of David and Jonathan. We all need friends to walk by our sides on this life journey.

Some say that we only really have one or two true friends in our lives at any given time. That could be true. But I also believe that we can widen that circle, depending on where we are in our lives. We can participate in small, safe groups. We can have people who support us, and whom we support, in different areas of our lives.

For example, I have a dear friend who is struggling with mama issues. No. Not that kind. Her widowed mother is in failing health. She has two sisters to help but it’s still hard. She’s never done anything right in her mama’s eyes and time hasn’t eased that pain. In some ways it’s worse now, because of her mama’s health.

I can talk to her. I can listen. We understand each other because I, too, am dealing with elderly parents who are critical and in failing health. So we share and, in turn, support one another. Our bond of friendship gives each of us strength to face situations and days that seem so difficult at times.

I can’t imagine trying to face life without friends to laugh and cry with along the way. I value my friends so much. I pray that each of you has friends to walk with you and strengthen you, to understand and love you. It’s what God wants for each of us.