Tag Archives: troubles

Impulse ~ Five Minute Friday

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“All you that are righteous be glad because of what the LORD has done! Remember what the holy God has done, and give thanks to him.” Psalm 97:12 (GNT)

Look For the Joy

This picture popped up in my Timehop today and my first impulse was to quickly swipe it away. Looking, even in a glance, brought so many memories to the surface. Difficult memories, such heartache filled memories that at first I didn’t want to be reminded of, but then, just as quickly I decided to look more closely at this photo taken two years ago of my youngest grandson and me and something changed. My heartache became heartfelt gratitude.

Just two weeks prior to this picture our little one laid in a hospital bed hooked up to more tubes and wires then you can imagine fighting for his life. We were still in shock with all that had happened but as you can see, he was (and is) a miracle. In those fourteen days he’d returned to us the playful, smiling, precious boy we knew despite all he was going through. So today, that’s what I’m choosing to let this picture help me remember.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2 (NLT)

You and I know that life IS difficult and filled with much heartache. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the midst of it all, looking at a trial as “great joy” doesn’t come naturally. I’m learning though, that when we can go back days, months, or yes, even years and picture all that God has accomplished, the blessings received, and how far we’ve come, that despite all the suffering, joy CAN be found!

This is a hard time of year for our family as we recall the events two years ago. Our first impulse is to look away because it’s just too painful to revisit those awful days, maybe you know just how that feels too. But James, a servant of God and of Jesus reminds us to reconsider, not to turn from it, but to look more closely at what’s changed. And you know what has? We have. 

“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:3-4 (NLT)

None of us long for troubles to come our way, but when they do there’s comfort when we look to those memories from the past that pop up, focus on how God has seen us through, and noticing all the ways He transformed our weeping to rejoicing, ashes to beauty, and our heartache into joy,…

“Therefore we do not lose heart. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
2 Corinthians 4:16a, 17 (NLT)

I’m linking up with others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com again this week. Click over to read more.

Bear ~ Write 28 Days

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“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7(ESV)

Bear

Taking a photo walk in the woods I spotted something I couldn’t identify. Thinking at first that it was a dead animal I hesitated to venture any closer. Realizing (a little later than I should have) that I held a zoom lens in my hand, I focused in on the mysterious find. To my surprise it was a Teddy Bear with no clue as to how it got there.

A sense of sadness overtook me as I looked through the view finder. What was meant to be loved and cherished was instead laying in the midst of decaying leaves, a most unexpected place, abandoned and alone and it hit close to home.

Maybe you, like me, at one time or another have found yourself in a situation you never anticipated you’d be in: illness, betrayal, finances, failures, any of those things that can leave us laid out flat. Our comfortable lives suddenly fall to pieces and instead of sensing God’s love, we find ourselves lonely and feeling forsaken.

“The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;”
Psalm 34:17-18a (NLT)

When we are surprised by life with no idea how we got where we are, the Psalmist reminds us that unlike the poor bear in the woods, WE are not on our own. God is near, and when we call to him, He hears and binds our hearts with His love.

I don’t have any idea who that bear belongs to, but because of Jesus we each can know to Whom we belong and we can be sure that He’ll never fail or abandon us. Yes, there may be times we feel lost and alone but my friends God sees us and He knows exactly where we are.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:10(NLT)

Think ~ Day 25 ~ 31 Day Writing Challenge

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“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 (NIV)

Think

Just when you think things are settling down and beginning to get back to normal, you blink. Suddenly you find yourself feeling as if you’re teetering on the edge of a cliff, afraid of falling and being swallowed up by the valley below. I blinked.

My wise husband shared that maybe a life of trouble IS normal. Not what we like to hear, but 60+ years tell me that it’s true. Maybe you’re standing beside me staring into the abyss too. If you are, let’s join hearts and cling (literally) to these words, the Word:

“The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”
Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (NIV)

And just when you think there’s no hope:

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

And in a blink of an eye…Jesus.