psalm forty

 Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the LORD;

he inclined to me and heard my cry.

He drew me up from the pit of

destruction,

out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock,

making my steps secure.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,

and put their trust in the LORD. 

Blessed is the man who makes

the LORD his trust,

who does not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after a lie!

You have multiplied, O LORD my God,

your wondrous deeds and your

thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.

Sacrifice and offering you have not

desired,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

Then I said, "Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written

of me:

I desire to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart."

I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

behold, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O LORD.

I have not hidden your deliverance

within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and

your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love

and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain

your mercy from me;

your steadfast love and your faithfulness

will

every preserve me!

For evils have encompassed me

beyond number;

my iniquities have overtaken me,

and I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head;

my heart fails me.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!

O LORD, make haste to help me!

Let those be put to shame and

disappointed altogether

who seek to snatch away my life;

let those be turned back and brought to

dishonor

who desire my hurt!

Let those be appalled because of their shame

who say to me "Aha, Aha!"

But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who love your salvation

say continually, "Great is the LORD!"

As for me, I am poor and needy,

but the Lord takes thought for me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

do not delay, O my God!

I know that the LORD parted the Red Sea in the dark.

     Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 3:25-26

They marched out of the land of chains. Their former captors soon changed their minds, however, and charged after them.

 

Then there was the sea.

Their God could deal with water. He could deal with anything. 

But the Egyptians were coming fast. 

And there was the sea.

Night fell.

They camped on the shore; recapture on one side, a watery grave on the other.

But God did not forget them during the night. 

They woke with the sun. The Egyptians were coming.

What is this?!

"The sea... it's... parted!"

"We can go through!"

"We can escape!"

for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 

GOD HAS NOT LEFT US

HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN US DURING THE NIGHT

HE WILL KEEP OUR FEET FROM GETTING CAUGHT

HE WILL DELIVER US FROM SUDDEN TERROR

amen.

s

overwhelmed

     Do you ever feel like you want to just pause time? Just pause - get tons of work done, sleep, eat, etc. - then press play and "start life" again where you left off, except way ahead of everyone and completely stress-free?
   
 Maybe that's just me.

     I just feel like I have so much responsibility. SO MUCH. And I struggle with feeling like I'm never good enough... that I'm not doing enough... that I'm not mature or reliable enough...

I'm struggling.

     I'm taking my third year of Latin in school this year, and I absolutely love Latin normally. But it's really hard this year. And I'm discouraged. And nervous. Add six other classes on top of that and it's completely overwhelming.

     I know that I'm supposed to lean on God for all of my strength, but I'm having trouble trusting that he has enough of it. I know he does, but... gosh, it's just everything on my plate at once. I want to prove to myself that I am good enough, not really to God - I know what he thinks of me already - but to people around me. It's probably more important to me than it should be. I don't want to live with this binding me. I've realized that I'm not free from it, but it's strange because I don't necessarily want to be free from it. If I just gave up the fight and let God work through me, I wouldn't be proving anything to myself. Not that I need to prove anything to myself; I just want to.

     It's all so confused and messed up. I'm sorry if it doesn't make sense. I just needed to get that out there. Please, try to understand where I'm coming from. I'm in a difficult place. It's okay to be in a difficult place - I know you all are probably in one, too. So maybe you could... pray for me. And if you ask for prayer in the comment section I will pray for you too.

- Sarah

.

For those who want it so bad, but can't have it.

For those who feel the need to fight.

For those who desperately want the storm to be over. 

For those who kick and scream and prolong the storm willingly.

For those who feel so lost, and forget what still waters and green pastures are.

For those who feel like their drowning in lies. 

For those who can't stop.

For those who are confused, and lonely, and terribly frightened.

For those who's eyes are swollen and red and stinging from crying so much. 

For the weak, the thirsty, the empty.



When you feel like you're over your head in lies and deception, being tossed every which way by the terribly rough and choppy Sea that is life on this broken earth - pray through Psalm 23. I promise you it will restore your soul. I promise. Allow the peace to fill you and don't fight anymore.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.  

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies; 

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life, 

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Psalm 23

accepting imperfection

Well, I rounded the corner.

     To tell you the truth, I knew this trial would be different from last time. Last time, God gave me hard circumstances, and through that, I learned and grew and was sanctified. This time, I'm learning and growing in normal circumstances. It's starting inside this time. God has shown me something that I implied in this post - a longing to be perfect.

     I know what you're probably thinking: "Duh, Sarah, everyone wants to be perfect!" But I think most Christians have accepted that they sin, but they are forgiven by what Jesus did on the cross. And I do believe that, to be sure! But I struggle, still. And I don't think this struggle is just the "usual" self-sufficient feeling that Christians get.

     Like when I'm driving with my dad (I've got my learner's permit and I'm working on getting enough hours to get my license). I'm still learning to drive, so obviously I'm going to have to take direction from my dad, right?

     Even if he just reminds me to put my turn signal on, I'll get all defensive, like "yeah, I was going to do that."

     It's an extremely limiting, imprisoning way to live. And I'm having a hard time because I want to admit when I'm wrong, and be okay with taking direction. But I have insecurities and I've let the devil get his foot into those insecurities. So now I'm on a journey with God, and he's going to free me. Eventually. And I'll learn from it and be blessed by it.

     I'm so blessed already. When I embarked on that first trial last year, I had no idea what was happening to me. There I was, in the worst possible circumstances I could imagine, and I was desperate. I have learned so much in the past year. So much. And now I'm using what I've learned about trials this time around.

     It's still so, so hard. It wouldn't be a trial if it wasn't. I'm able to face this with a lot more optimism and hope, though.

     I'm going to leave you with some lyrics from "You Speak," another song from Audrey Assad's new album, "Fortunate Fall." This album is gold I tell you.

// You liberate me from my own noise and my own chaos /
From the chains of a lesser law You set me free //

- Sarah <3 

    

    

fiery trial musings and four things to remember

     Remember that series on my fiery trial I did last year, about leaving my old church? I just read back and read it, and... wow. It all came back in one big, tear-filled rush. I still cry when I hear this song. I remembered it all - the specific emotions I felt on a day-to-day basis, the tears, the heartache. And the constant struggle of trying to believe that God is good.
     Well, it's been a year since God and I embarked on my first life-trial. And things have been going good. I feel the impact of the trial now and again, but I've reached the end, and now I just want to be ready when something else like it falls in my path. Because it will.
     But you know what's strange? Reading what I wrote last year, when I was in the midst of that fiery trial, I realized that I miss it. I miss being forced to rely on God at all times. I miss the sobs of relief when I would read Isaiah 43. I miss the vulnerability - the constant need to jump into God's lap to just sit and wait it out.
     I can't believe it, but I'm out of that hard time, and I'm pretty sure it's for good. I'll probably feel the impact of it for the rest of my life, but the sharpness of the pain is gone. It's all gone. All I know is that I love my new church (not so new now - I've been attending for a year...!!!), and I love the people in it. I'm dreaming big and anticipating what's ahead in my life. And I can't believe that I really am at the end of that tunnel.
     And I can't believe that I want another trial.
Okay, so I don't really want another one. But I miss that feeling of God being always present in my weakness. I find myself slipping back into old habits of self-sufficiency (two words: summer school).
     So, if you're reading this today and you're going through a fiery trial of your own, please read on, carefully.

1. IT'S GOING TO BE OVER SOMETIME.

2. GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. HE'S HOLDING YOU TIGHT AND HE WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER LET YOU GO.

3. GOD LOVES YOU A WHOLE LOT. 

4. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

<3
Sarah

wednesday verse

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

be still my soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Leave to your God to order and provide

In every change, he faithful will remain

Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend

Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake

To guide the future as he has the past

Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake

All now mysterious shall be bright at last

Be still, my soul: the waves and wind still know

His voice who ruled them while they dwelt below

Be still my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last

     I had forgotten about this hymn. I was singing (I'm always singing, and nearly always looking for something new to sing), and I thought of this one. I started singing it, and when I got to the line "in every change, he faithful will remain," I lost it. I tried to keep singing, but it was hard because I was crying.

     Lately, I have still been struggling with all the change and the sadness, disappointment, et cetera that comes with it. Most of the time I'm fine; I forget that it's hard and enjoy life. It was one of those times when I started singing "Be Still My Soul." Singing "in every change, he faithful will remain" dug out the emotions I have in the times I'm struggling. 

     This really is an incredible hymn. I want to take a minute and talk about what it means for me.

In every change, he faithful will remain

Be still my soul: your best, your heavenly friend

Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end

     Jesus is my best friend. He is always faithful. He's the still, never-changing rock above my swirling, changing, chaotic life. I know that though he leads me through thorny ways, I will reach that joyful end.

Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake

All now mysterious shall be bright at last

Be still my soul: the waves and wind still know

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

     God is in control of the waves and the wind: he rules them just as he calmed them when he was incarnate on the earth. I may not be able to control my circumstances, but God has it all under his control.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored

     All I can say is that I can't wait for when there will be no such thing as disappointment, grief, or fear.  Revelation 21:4 says: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." As Christians, love's purest joys will be ours like they once were for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. 

Have you found any songs recently that God used to speak to you?

-Sarah :)

     

wednesday verse

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5

changing churches

     I went to one church for ten years. There were so many people I knew there. I was so used to the building and the events and the atmosphere of it all. My family has now been directed by God to find another church home, and let me just say that it is so HARD. Remember my "fiery trial" blog series? There are things about that church that I just love, and having attended it for so long, it has been quite a trial to stop going there and look for another church. 

     I'm not going to expound on the emotions I have experienced because I did that in my fiery trial series (if you didn't read that and you want to, they all have the label "fiery trial," so the posts are easy to find), but basically I just doubted God a great deal and wondered why and how this could turn out for my good. 

     My family has been attending a church we first visited in the summer, and we all love it. I hope that soon we will be able to call it our church home, but for now I'm just enjoying getting to know all of the wonderful people there and becoming more familiar with the church (not to mention going to the amazing youth group!). 

     I still struggle sometimes with this change; it's easy to think about what I don't have in this new church and what I did have at the old one. But being sad is alright. This is a hugely different experience, and it's taking some time to adjust. I'm just praying that God will give me complete joy and contentment in whatever church he places me. 

     I planned for this to be longer, but I think God really worked in my heart during the long time that I was putting off writing this post. Like I said before, the "fiery trial" series really speaks for the me that I was months ago, so that would put this post in perspective. 

Have you faced any big changes that God has helped you through?

-Sarah :)

ready for the impact zone

     In this post I included a quote from "Soul Surfer." One of the key phrases in the quote was "the next wave." This metaphor applies to my life strangely well; I was in the "impact zone," then I got out and went over "the next wave," and now I'm in the impact zone again (just to let you know, the only way I know any surfing terms is because of Soul Surfer. I'm not some pro surfer blogger over here. :D). But this time, I'm ready. I'm equipped for this next plunge underwater.
     It's really funny how I have always heard things but never seen them in my life! Like what's happening now. I knew that people learn things from trials, and here I am, wiser and more hopeful in this trial than I was in the last one. I don't know whether this one seems easier because it really isn't as intense or shocking, or if the intenseness and shock are dulled by the hope I learned to have from the last trial (if that makes sense).
     The main thing I learned is that there is always an end to a trial. I face this trial now, assured that sometime the sun will come out and Jesus will have helped me triumph over another hard time. Another quote from "Soul Surfer" comes to mind:

"I don't know why terrible things happen to us sometimes. But I have to believe something good is going to come out of it. I don't know what that is."

I don't know what that is. I don't. But God does. I will benefit greatly from this.
     So now I will look ahead to the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing that there IS indeed a light.

-Sarah :)

wednesday verse

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

fiery trial part 6 (blessings)

     We pray for blessings, we pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for your mighty hand to ease our suffering

     

     As I continue further along the path of suffering, it's easy for me to focus my attention on how I am being disappointed again and again. It's easy to give up trying to be strong – trying to make it through. 

     Far too easy. And far too tempting.

I want what I want, and I want God to give it to me! Why should I try to conform my will to his, when I'm sure he can't know best?

All the while You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

The thing is, he does know best. I have to believe that. I am starting to, but it's hard. I would even be tempted to say it's too hard.

     But even as I'm writing this, I'm realizing that I have been depending too much on my own strength to make it through this trial. What makes me think I can carry myself through something I didn't even bring about? Am I that full of myself, that I would assign that much power to myself? It's a problem all Christians face at one time or another. We try to handle things by ourselves. But we can't handle things by ourselves. 

     It's not my place to take over; to be sovereign. It is my place, however, to fill myself with Jesus, who is sovereign, and with the power that he gives me to walk through my suffering. Exodus 14:14 says, "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” I will not stop putting my hope and trust in Jesus. I know he will fight for me. 

     I know that what I am experiencing will result in his blessings. He will give me something much greater than anything I could ever imagine. I must believe that. I must keep my eyes on Jesus. 

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near

And what if trials of this life

Are Your mercies in disguise?

     I look forward to the wonderful things God has in store for me. I pray that he will give me the strength and wisdom to keep walking in the path he has set for me, without looking back. It is exhausting to think about the whys of the doings of God; he is incomprehensible, and as such, I will not try to understand his reasons for directing my life the way he does. 

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

     It's all that I can do to keep these beliefs from dashing to pieces. I have to fight to keep my eyes on Jesus. But I'm fighting with his power, not my own. Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" I sing songs about God's love for me and his sovereignty, sometimes just to remind my doubting heart that it's true. 

     It is true, even if that seems hopelessly preposterous. It's not. There is a purpose, and God is working all things out for my good because I love him. 

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst

This world can't satisfy?

     And so, I lean on Jesus, knowing that he loves me and that he wants and intends to bless me. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” - Lamentations 3:22-24. 

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

 Are Your mercies in disguise?

Blessings - Laura Story

-Sarah :)

fiery trial - part 4 (revelation)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

     for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who made the great lights,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

the sun to rule over the day,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and brought Israel out from among them,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who divided the Red Sea in two,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and made Israel pass through the midst of it,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who led his people through the wilderness,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who struck down great kings,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and killed mighty kings,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

Sihon, king of the Amorites,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and Og, king of Bashan,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and gave their land as a heritage,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

a heritage to Israel his servant,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

and rescued us from our foes,

    for his steadfast love endures forever;

he who gives food to all flesh,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven,

    for his steadfast love endures forever.

I have had a revelation.

God's plan is good!

     I'm finally realizing this. Before, I tried to say it over and over in an attempt to convince myself that it's true, but God is being so kind and helping me to believe it. 

     I'm not all the way there - it still hurts to think that I'm not going to get my own way. Things that remind me of it pop up everywhere. But God's giving me grace! He DOES love me! And that is why I am giving thanks to the LORD - because his love endures forever!!! 

-Sarah :)

     

fiery trial - part 2

     I think I am going to make posting about my "fiery trial" a somewhat regular thing, since it is so prominent in my life. I hope you all will be able to benefit from what God is showing me through this.

     This will be a rather short post - I just wanted to share a few lyrics to a song that has encouraged me through this lately.

I am here

I'm holding you

you'll make it through this

I am here

I am here

It's really quite simple, but it helps to know that God is always with me, and that I will make it through this.

If you ever think of it, I would appreciate your prayers as I continue to struggle through my trial. And please comment or email me if there's any way I can pray for you, or if you want to share something that has helped you through a hard time (be it a song, a Bible verse, a quote, etc.). 

God bless you!

-Sarah :)

the fiery trial

     I'm here to post about my fiery trial.

Nota bene: In this post, I will not be pouring out my woes or using my blog as a medium to complain to all of my readers. I am simply using this example in my own life as a testimony to what our Father can do with the trials he allows to enter our lives.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. . . Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. . . Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

1 Peter 4:12-13, 16, 19

 
     I have been struggling recently with a certain trial that has come into my life. As far as I can see right now, I will not be able to do something that I want to do more than anything I can think of. Most of the time, I'm able to live my life normally, and forget about this desire to do something I can not do. But I can not avoid conversation that pertains to this, as it surely does up often. Once I am reminded of it, I can get overwhelmed by disappointment and anger. It's then that my view of God and of my faith starts to change.

     I have found myself asking, "if God loves me, why would he do this to me?" I have started to doubt God's love at times, and it's scary because I have heard of people asking that same question, and regard it as a "trial cliche" of sorts. My thought-process usually went something like this:

   

"I would never doubt God's love! After all, I'm a Christian, and the Bible clearly states that God loves us! Why is it so hard for those people who are going through trials to understand that?!"

    

      I have since learned that it is hard. Extremely so! I can lose perspective so easily, and just keep my eyes on what I want. That's when the world seems to come crashing down; when my world comes apart. All I want is that thing that I can't believe I'm not getting. That's all that I can see.

     But that's not all there is.

It's so important to remember that God isn't confined to my plan for my life! There is so much more that only God can see. I want him to say that I can do this thing! That I can have what I want! That this would be the best thing for me to do! God loves to give us good gifts, right? Yes – but, in truth, he knows what's good for us better than we do.

Here in this waiting room

Yearning for You to say go

And though I'm convinced that a yes would be best

This time You're telling me no

     Like I said before, it's hard! One time I considered bitterly how perfect my trial was for me. God gave me a great experience, let me look forward to the next time it could happen, and allowed me to be disappointed.

      But it's crucial to remember that God didn't do this out of hatred, or whatever! He's doing it out of love for me, and out of his infinite wisdom.

It's not that I don't have an answer

It's just not the one that I'd like

But through this time Lord I must keep in mind

You're always wiser than I

   
     God still loves me! He does. Even when he says that I can't have something I want. Think about it this way.

     God can see my entire life as, say, a map, showing every single thing that has happened and will happen from the day I was born until the day I die. He also sees me, walking along the little path on that map. He sees me experience something that he planned for me to do, and he sees me enjoy it to the fullest. 

     Sounds great! God loves it. I love it. Life is good! Here's when I start to see a little bit differently than God, the one who's holding and drawing that map of my life.

     I'm walking along this little path, and all I can see ahead is that thing that I want. I start running towards it: thinking about it, preparing for it, expecting it. And then, a big wall just drops down right in front of it. BOOM. The path suddenly starts leading me to the side. The wall made the path turn. Looking down the new path, I see a really, really dark forest. I can't see anything that remotely resembles what the wall blocked off; that thing that I wanted so much. Doesn't look promising.

     I start to walk down this path. In some strange way, that wall keeps following me, all the while blocking off what I want. 

     OK, maybe omnipresent walls is where the analogy ends.

The point is, As I walk through this dark forest of my life, I keep wanting to bang my head against that wall. To fight for what I want. To somehow break through the difficulty. To make it through and carry out my plan for my life after all.

     Meanwhile, God is watching me writhe in discontentment and disappointment, and then looks over farther down that path that I'm walking down. There's a wonderful surprise up there. A "light at the end of the tunnel." THERE IS ONE!!!!!! There is one. And God is guiding me to it. It's OK to leave my "wonderful" plan behind, because there's something so much better than that up ahead. Something better than that! It must be really something!!!! I'm reminded of a quote from Corrie ten Boom about God guiding us: "If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes." God knows we can't do this alone. He knows!

     

'Cause you have a much better purpose

And You have a far greater plan

And You have a bigger perspective

 'Cause You hold this world in Your hands

     Please realize that I really am struggling. I'm not quite to the point where I can believe totally and completely that God has something better ahead for me. That's partly why I'm writing this all down; to impregnate myself in this truth. It's hard to let go of my plan. So very hard. But I know God will get me there. And he will also help me to not entertain any doubts about his plan for me. He will help me to trust that there is nothing better than what he has prepared for me to do.

The things that I seek are from You

Like the strong healing touch of Your hand

But when You say no, help me trust even though

There's a reason I can't understand

      I'd like to think of Job, and the way he responded to his trials. (In case you are not familiar with the story of Job in the Bible, Job was a man who lost literally everything he had, even his health, as a test from God. Because God loved Job!) Though Job was experiencing deep pain and heartache, he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” That's the way I want to respond! God can help me do that. 

     There will come a time when I'm through that dark forest and at the wonderful surprise. Right now, by the power of God, I'm choosing to look to Jesus and not lose perspective. I'm choosing to believe that what's up ahead is incredibly good. I'm deciding, should God see fit to have me experience another tribulation farther along in my life, that I will bless his name and believe that he is wonderful and sovereign, regardless of how I'm feeling.

     Aren't you glad that God doesn't fluctuate with our emotions? I sure am.

That's my story. That's where I am right now. I know, as Chris Tomlin's lovely song, "How Can I Keep From Singing" says, "I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing!" By God's grace, I "can sing in my troubled times." There's no reason for me to be cast down; I'm simply adjusting to a plan-change. While this is painful, it is not too painful for my Father to handle. He can carry my burdens for me. He wants to.

     Please be encouraged by the truth in this post; not that anything I wrote is so very spectacular. God gave me this post. He made the words flow out of my fingertips and onto the keyboard so that I can hopefully bless all of my readers. We are all on a journey; a pilgrimage. We're all going to face sloughs of despond and valleys of the shadow of death. But God's our Father, and we're alive and strong in him! And we can look forward to everlasting relief from trials in heaven. Forever happiness.

When that miracle comes 'cause Your answer is yes

I will praise You for all of my days

But when Your wisdom declares that a no is best

I will praise You just the same

"Waiting Room" by Jonny Diaz

 God bless you!

-Sarah :)

     

Isaiah 43:1-7 (my favorite trial passage)

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
     I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you. 

For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in exchange for you.   

Because you are precious in my eyes,
    and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
    peoples in exchange for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
     I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you. 

 I will say to the north, Give up,
    and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth, 

 everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

New Mercies

     Remember a couple posts back, when I posted on the "less-read" books of the Bible? In that post, I mentioned a passage (one of my favorites from the whole Bible, actually) from Lamentations chapter 3.

     The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24

     Even though I commented a little on these verses in the post I did previously, I wanted to expand on it, since it seems to have become my "theme verse" recently. 

     One part that really sticks out to me is: "his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness." This is encouraging for me because I know that he will be faithful to me every day, no matter what my day-to-day struggles are. I feel like that sentence is quite cliche, like it's been said so much, and so it kind of loses it's meaning. But if I really dwell on it's meaning, the power of it comes back to me: he takes care of me every moment of the day! Today hasn't been one of my better days; there have been struggles, and I've been pushed almost to my limits. I was sitting here at my computer, slightly irritated by my circumstances today, when suddenly God reminded me of his faithfulness. 

"They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. . ."

     Although I didn't literally hear him say that, I knew it was from God. I was instantly encouraged by the fact that God was faithfully holding me up through my struggles. I know that I can make it through the day triumphantly if I trust that he grants me daily mercies. 

     Has God ever spoken to you through his Word like that? Maybe you didn't hear him audibly, but you knew he was trying to remind you of something. If that has happened to you, and if you'd like to, let me know in a comment on this post, along with the verse(s) that God used to speak to you. :)

-Sarah :)

Without the rain

"Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."

- Gilbert Chesterton

Isn't this a cool quote? I don't know who Gilbert Chesterton is (maybe you do), or if he's a Christian or not, but I was thinking about the possible meaning of this quote. I think the rain is supposed to represent "bad", but without it there would be no rainbow, or "good." This is so true in the way God works! We must go through trials to get closer to God. We must go through the "rain" to get the "rainbow."

Are there any quotes, not necessarily by Christian authors that encourage you in your Christianity?

-Sarah :)

peace

Peace

You give me peace

When the storms come, and I'm afraid

Peace

You give me peace

When I trust in the words You say

You give me peace

If You can calm the seas

Then You can comfort me

If winds obey Your voice

Why should I fear their noise?

And though my eyes can't see

I know You're with me

When someone starts to fight

And does things I don't like

I hear Your gentle voice 

Saying I have a choice

To make an enemy 

Or to spread Your peace

Peace | Sovereign Grace Music

Security in trials/persecution

My mom showed this quote to me. John Chrysostum is being persecuted for his faith by Empress Eudoxia.

John Chrysostum and Empress Eudoxia

“ You cannot banish me for this world is my Father’s house!”
“But I will kill you!”, said Empress Eudoxia.
“No, you cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God!”, said Chrysostum.
“Well, then, I will take away your treasures!” said the Empress.
“No, you cannot, for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.”
“But I will drive you away from your friends and you will have no one left.”
“No, you cannot”, said Chrysostum. “For I have a friend in heaven from whom you cannot separate me. I defy you for there is nothing you can do to harm me.”