I wonder if that young new mom had any idea of the sword that would indeed pierce her soul as she watched her boy tortured and killed. Love it isn’t all mountaintop moments, Love suffers.
Life sometimes feels like it’s more than we can handle.
Girl, you are stronger than you believe you are. Not because of you, not because of your own strength, not because of your determination, but rather because of the humble and caring servant within you. Jesus loves you and is with you every single step of the way. Jesus revered women. Many of His strongest supporters and those who ministered to His needs were women.
Sometimes we have to stop, take a breath and remember that true peace is found in the ability to trust God, embrace change, and trust in His provision, protection and loving guidance.
I’ve had seasons, some lasting for years, that I felt hidden. I wondered if the dreams in my heart were really from God, when nothing seemed to change. It’s easy to fall into impatience and even sadness when things in our lives are dormant. When I’ve taken things into my own hands, and tried to hurry up the hand of God, I’ve always been disappointed -mostly in myself.
Crazy how memories can pop up at such perfectly orchestrated times- divine timing! This one just did for me. Hope it encourages you as much as it did me.
There’s just something about spring that always evokes joyful feelings of hope and childlike anticipation of what lies just around the corner. Winter seasons of cold barrenness can feel endless and sometimes wondering if there really can be “life” again. And then, every year, here comes spring, reminding us that indeed God has been busy working, just out of our sight. And all those seeds, all the hopes and dreams begin to burst forth in new life again.
So often I hear “everything happens for a reason” coming out of the mouths of well-meaning people. When I found myself in the midst of deep pain and unimaginable fear, I asked God why He said that. For the first time I earnestly dove into His word to learn and to hear from Him. You know what? He never said that!
It is part of “life“ that things are constantly shifting and changing. People, circumstances, relationships – the good, the bad, and the in between. When life throws a curveball what an incredible comfort it is that our solid foundation never moves. He is faithful.
There are days when I wake up, and the sun seems to be shining extra brightly, days when it feels as though all is well. There are also days when troubles, concerns and worries seem to labor against the peace that filled my sunny days. It’s in those days that it literally takes a concerted effort to remind myself to focus on the good. God is so good to me.
The older I get and the more history I have to reflect on, it seems that my weakest moments came suddenly and unexpectedly when I felt strong and confident. I found confidence in business accolades and creative endeavors. But, beneath it was an ever present insecurity. I always felt like life was a tightrope walk -alone.
I also can reflect back now and recognize that it was in my weakest moments, when everything came toppling down, that I found unshakable strength way beyond myself. I realized that when I put my life willingly and wholeheartedly into Gods loving hands, His strength carried me beyond anything I could imagine.
I felt the Love I had so desperately wanted my entire life.