Category: Trials

Stronger Through Trials

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You are good to Your servant,
O Lord, just as You promised.
Teach me proper discernment and understanding!
For I consider Your commands to be reliable. 

Psalm 119:65-66

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Your goodness and keeping Your promises.  Please help me to continue to learn how to apply Your reliable rules.

Before I was afflicted I used to stray off,
but now I keep Your instructions.
You are good and You do good.
Teach me Your statutes!
Arrogant people smear my reputation with lies,
but I observe Your precepts with all my heart.
Their hearts are calloused,
but I find delight in Your law.
It was good for me to suffer,
so that I might learn Your statutes.

Psalm 119:67-71

Thank you for providing ways to help me stay close to Your law.  Please help me to remember Your goodness to me in trials.  Please give me the strength to endure the lies that some tell.  They do not care about Your ways, but I know Your ways are best.  Suffering teaches me to follow You.

The law You have revealed is more important to me
than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

Psalm 119:72

The value of Your law is more than anything I can gain on this earth.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.

Are You Sure God Cares?

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After a week filled with challenges that hit the core of who I am, I know how easy it is to question if God cares. I have been blessed by reading the devotionals like In Touch written by Dr. Charles Stanley. The devotional for Monday, April 29, reminds us of God’s love in difficulties. “This (Colossians 3:3) speaks of our eternal security and also gives us a sense of safety since nothing comes our way without passing through God’s hands.”

Wow! I still struggle counting trials joy, but God is hard at work lovingly choosing what I need to grow and mature. I don’t pretend to understand how the pain of difficulty specifically works in my life, but God does.

My Abba loves me. He wants me to come to Him in prayer and see how much He cares.

Joy and Sorrow

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When Jesus came to earth, he experienced both joy and sorrow.  He was willing for our sake to endure the horrors of the cross.  He has sent ahead of us a “cloud of witnesses” – others who have lived through joys and sorrows of their own.

As we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can enjoy more of the joys and live stronger through the sorrows.  Many have done it before, and more will continue.  God has made it possible.

Hebrews 12 1 2

Just Keep Praying

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I know we all have times that are tough. Sometimes a close friend or loved one is facing the difficulty. Our first desire is to try to fix things. While I believe in seeking solutions to problems, I think we try to take God’s job into our own hands.

So when times get tough, go to God. He is waiting for us to take all our problems to Him. He will do what He does best; provide the best solution at the right time.

Just.

Keep.

Praying.

Meet Sheila

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Meet Sheila. This is my “new-to-me” car. As for the name – friends of mine influenced me into naming cars. This one just looked like a Sheila to me. I have no idea why – she just does. 😉

20180528_131442

Now for the story – last Sunday as I was driving to a graduation, my 1994 Olds broke down. Something literally fell out. I was able to pull into a park to safety, get the part from the street and then walk home. Thankfully I live in a small town and I was within 2 blocks of my house (through the park). When I got home I started looking for a car online. I had done some looking already knowing my car would need to be replaced within the next year anyway. While I didn’t know how big or small of a repair this would be, my heart was saying enough. The older cars get the more repairs they need.

A friend helped me get my car home and told me the shaft of the water pump had broken off (the piece that fell). A water pump is not a huge repair as long as it is taken care of right away. However, I had already been looking at cars online and found one I liked and felt I could afford. I asked a few friends to pray (the ones who also listened to me rattle on about car issues – I’ve owned multiple old cars over the years). I spent Sunday afternoon and evening praying hard. I reminded God how much I really wanted this car I saw, but I was concerned that I would make a wrong decision.

Monday (Memorial Day) came and about 10:30 I heard from the dealership and went to test drive the car. I originally planned to walk, but after sending a message requesting prayer, a friend from church offered to drive me. A friend who has mechanics experience. I went through the usual car dealership test drive, sales pitch, telling them what I was comfortable with – and then finally signing paperwork and drove the car away.

This was a combination of a frustrating weekend with God’s fun provisions mixed in. I have to admit; I prefer the fun blessings. Cars can be very frustrating. I don’t enjoy dealing with break-downs or dealerships. However, God works through all of those things to my spiritual growth (Romans 8:28). I was thankful for multiple things through this last week that affirmed I was making the right decision.

Life is full of challenges and blessings. Through them all God is good. He guides and provides. Praise His name!

Comfort

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My family had a tough week, but God is still good.  After a battle with dementia, my aunt died on Wednesday.  While we will miss her, she is rejoicing with her Savior.  My aunt had placed her trust in Jesus Christ.  Those of us who trust Christ will have the same blessing when our earthly life is done.

Friend, if you do not know the joy of trusting Christ do not hesitate.  He is waiting for you with open arms.

1 Thess 4 13 18

Comfort for Good Times and Hard Times

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No matter where we are in life, we have good days and bad. Living in a sin cursed earth with sinful people means there will be hardship. But God is good no matter what happens so we can rest in Him and find joy. When it is hard to find comfort in trials, God’s Word is a great help. His Words allow us to know the safety of His care and help us rest in Him.

No matter what you are going through right now, know that God loves you and comfort is yours if you just ask.

The Blessing of Food Issues

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A while back I shared my story about “Contentment with Flooding“.  Today I want to share about another challenge that God put in my path and how He has used it to my benefit.

Some years ago I had been getting sick frequently.   Too frequently.  I floundered for a while, but finally wondered if I had food issues due to an article I had read about gluten sensitivity.  I also talked to a friend who has Celiac’s Disease and found we had health issues in common.  I decided I needed to try eating gluten free to see if that would make a difference.  Wow, did it ever!  I had more energy than I had in a long time and didn’t get sick as much.  I started losing weight (that needed to come off) and could tell I was healthier.

As hard as I tried,  I felt it impossible to consistently have good food habits.  I am learning to change my thinking about food.  Food should be fuel  for my body (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit according to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and not used to make me feel good.  God blessed by taking away the convenience foods that I tended to run to when life was crazy (which is often).  Food is still a battle, but God has blessed in making it possible to get the foods I need and encouragement from friends to have right thinking.

Sometimes blessings come in the form of difficulties.  I still struggle counting trials joy (especially when I want pizza), but God is patient and lovingly brings me back to the right path.

God is so good!