Enjay08’s Weblog
We often feel alone during times of trouble. God doesn’t want that. He promises to always be with us.Archive for March, 2008
No Bother – Really
Without God I could not face even one new day. I am constantly running to Him in prayer, asking for strength, courage, and mercy. Suprisingly He always gives me more than I ask for – indescribable joy, peace, friends and humor.
I remember a time when I tried to pray at least once a day, usually before closing my eyes in sleep. That seemed like a good idea. Sometimes I was so tired that I just went to sleep. Or too preoccupied with a problem that I couldn’t turn off my thoughts. Or I just forgot.
I always felt guilty about that, but really, what did I have to say worth bothering God?
For believers, the scriptures telling us to take all our problems to God are abundant.
“Casting all your care on Him; for He careth for you.” 1Peter 5:7
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Phillipians 4:6
Yet we strive to solve the problems ourselves, not wanting to be dependent on God. Being dependent is bad, right? Humans are supposed to be independent, making decisions, solving problems on our own. That’s what the concept of free will means, isn’t it?
God sees it from a different point of view. He created us for communion with Him. He desires our love, our obedience and yes, our dependence. His plan is always better than ours. His solutions are brilliant. His desires are good. When we do run to Him and give Him the troubles in our life, He is free to work His beautiful will.
Learning to depend on God is part of learning to love and trust Him. Accepting that He desires a close, constant relationship with each person. Knowing that He is always ready to listen to us and to work His will in our lives, if we are willing. We aren’t bothering Him when we bring our concerns to Him and submit them to His will. That is what He wants.
When we start communicating with God and submitting to His will, He releases unlimited Joy to our heart
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:3
How often to you talk to God? As often as you talk to your friends?
email: nora56 (at) excite.com (replace (at) with @
…Keeps Going and Going and Going
People ask me: ‘What next?’ It does appear that troubles keep hitting me one after the other. Sometimes two at a time. It would be so easy to give up, to throw up my hands in despair and stop trying.
But whenever I feel like that, and I do sometimes, the Holy Spirit whispers: Trust God. I’ve learned to obey that whisper. I pray and give my troubles and fears to God asking Him to work His will.
It is easy to say, ‘don’t be afraid’. And it is important to learn that we don’t have to live in fear. But, for my part it takes some hard work, and it needs to be done over and over.
So when trouble keeps going and going, I remind myself that with God’s help and mercy, I can keep going and going.
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Sounds like going and going and going!!!
God Bless
Oh, if you would like to write to me, you can reach me at nora56 (at) excite.com Replace (at) with @
Bumps in the Road
NOW:
Radiation was rolling along just fine. Then I saw my breast surgeon for a checkup and he sent me for an ultrasound of my leg. He thought it was larger than the other leg. Then he sent me to the hospital (blood clot). I’d been this route before and knew it could mean a week in the hospital waiting for my blood to thin. That meant missing 5 – 7 treatments.
The radiation doctor assured me that a break in treatment could be a good thing for my skin. (It had suddenly turned bright red the day I entered the hospital.) By then I had talked to God and given Him my fears and frustrations and asked Him to use me if He could. He did!
God never wastes a thing, even a stay in the hospital. He rolled at least three things together and accomplished them in that week. He turned that week into an incredible experience, and not just for me.
Bumps in the road can be bad. They can cause damage to you and your car, or they can slow you down a little and reassure you that you have good shocks.
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1Peter 4:5
THEN:
DejaVu, sort of. When I was being diagnosed with MS in 2002, I had three hospitalizations. The last was for a leg blood clot. I was staying in Georgia with family at the time and the third time in the hospital seemed like one more in an unending series of bad things.
But by then I had learned to trust God with this stuff, and soon after I left the hospital I was ready to go home, to Florida. I was supposed to reclaim my job after using my Family Medical Leave on May 5th, and my family dropped me off the weekend before. I made it back to work, barely able to get through the four hour days at first. But, I got stronger and eventually took a full time job at the same program.
Letting God be in control doesn’t mean a smooth ride, but it does mean that God knows about the bumps before you do and will prepare you and be with you.
God Bless
