My Life as a COMMA!

Times of trial are full of suffering, trouble, distress, affliction, misery, or pain.  But God says during those times that we are supposed to “count it all joy” because “the testing of your faith produces patience: (Jamies 1:2-3)……God says patience makes us “perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4)

These are the words I read as I awoke this morning.  Lord there are so many people that are hurting, suffering all kinds of troubles and afflictions.  And though there are some that know they will get through it…..there are others that don’t think they are strong enough to endure.  That they don’t deserve Your love or that they have done too much wrong for You to care.  Right now I just want to thank you that after going through so much I KNOW that is not true.  I know that You have walked with me through every valley….every dark time You were there.

I remember telling a friend that I just felt like I was in a tunnel.  No light….no end….just a tunnel….  I couldn’t see how I could ever make my way out.  I knew God was with me but I didn’t feel hope.   Then……. I can’t tell you when, I started singing with belief that “If God is for me….who can be against me?”… I truly believed it.  I just kept praying.  I didn’t pray specifically…but then there was a tiny light at the end of that tunnel.  Then God kept showing up.  It was as if He was saying to me, “See child, the darkness and the troubles you faced, I was there all the time.  I needed you to understand true darkness in order to fully appreciate the Light!”.  I honestly can’t tell you when it happened…but all I see now is light….no tunnel…no darkness.  It is glorious!  And focusing on light makes the darkness seem so far away……  Try it……..focus on a light.   If you do……then close your eyes…..even in that darkness the memory of the light is still there…..that silouette of the light is still there in the darkness!  HE IS THERE in your dark times!  He is there showing you that in your troubles……count it all joy…because without darkness…….the light isn’t as bright. Valleys are only deep because the mountains are so HIGH!  Be patient and wait for Him.  His timing is perfect.  His strength will endure any and every pain.  In Him, you will lack nothing!  What joy to know we walk with Him!

Another coping mechanism I have used when I am down…..is what that Millionaire show calls….”phone a friend!”  If you don’t feel strong enough or loved enough….phone someone you know is strong and that loves you!  Borrow their strength….borrow their belief in you …  or their belief that God will pull you through until you can start to believe it again for yourself.  Reach out!  Don’t go through it alone and don’t feel like you are the ONLY person that has EVER gone through what you are going through.  True…your circumstances may be a little different…but what I have learned is that we ALL have stories and valleys and tunnels we have been through!  Reach out to someone who is on the other side of it.  Reach out to someone who is on the mountain and out of their valley and borrow some of their belief…  Because knowing we are not alone is so much of a burden lifted.  To know that someone else walked through something similar to what you are walking….and with God they are free of it!!  Well….that is what God has given us!  Stories to share…..  Troubles that we have walked through and come out with our faith and our hearts strengthened because of it!  And if you are one of those that have made it through…don’t you dare keep it to yourself!  God has given these to us (I think) to help others!  So be the light…..be the light at the end of the tunnel for someone..   You will be blessed by sharing!  I know you will….because I have been blessed over and over again because I chose to share!

Thank you for blessing my life.  Thank you for walking this journey with me.  Thank you for your sweet comments that are blessing me and encouraging me to keep at it!  If you need……I will be praying for you!!
In His LOVE! ~c