As I sit here typing this I am struggling to keep my hands moving and my eyes open. I am going to the hospital tonight for a sleep study and am under strict instructions to take no medication, drink no caffeine, and take no naps. Yikes! I am only human! Well, so far I have only fallen asleep twice, so I will consider that a victory. :)
Woops! Make that three times.
Where was I?...Last night I was talking to my mom about some things I am struggling with right now and she reminded me of a very important truth. Sometimes we go through trials that are so devastating to us that we find it hard to see anything good. So why do we keep going? How can we hold fast to our faith when our world seems to be crumbling around us?
Titus 1:2 tells us of one hope that we have through Christ Jesus, that of eternal life. This promise can be reassuring, but I know that sometimes I find it hard to look far enough past my current troubles to find comfort in my eternal future.
The hope that we have for the situation we are in today can be found in Jeremiah 29:11. Unfortunately this verse tends to be over-used among the church crowd today. If you think carefully about what the verse is saying, rather than just skimming over the familiar words, I hope that you will be able to absorb them with a fresh impact.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."
Much of my frustration stems from not knowing what the future holds. I am a bit of a control freak (ok, more than a bit) and if I do not understand why the world is breaking up around me like a lake during the spring thaw then I tend to get very anxious. I know that God has plans for my life, but when I am feeling miserable it is hard to remember that His plans are perfect for me. Even when I don't think that anything makes sense, I should not worry because God's plans are already in motion. And His plans, unlike mine, are based on a complete knowledge of what the future holds.
Last night my mom reminded me that God has a plan for my life, even in times of trouble and suffering. I don't have to be like Jesus' disciples, who began to panic when their boat was caught in the middle of a lake during a storm. I may be in the middle of a storm, but I can rest calmly in the assurance of His sovereignty over my life.
Dianna, you already know that I hold strong to Jeremiah 29:11, but I agree that when you are in the midst of yet another of life's struggles....it is difficult to hold onto that promise.
ReplyDeleteIt's also difficult to know that there is a reason for our struggles and that we may not know this side of heaven why, but hold on girl! Life here is only temporary and the promise of eternal life is our reward!
Thanks for blogging, you are doing an awesome job and I am so very proud of you!
I am so glad this life is temporary! I can't wait to exchange this 'perishable' body for an 'imperishable' one (1 Corinthians 15). :)
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