I felt led to write this post, not knowing where to start, or what to write or where it would all lead. Simply, start and hope for the best! Lol! So be prepared for some scattered thoughts, and please bear with me! It's been a while! Sorry about that, but life has been busy and when I have had time, I simply haven't been motivated to write publicly! Believe me, I have probably written enough to compile into a book (or two!), but none of which would have been a good blog post! Anyways,... on to the post at hand! Hope you enjoy it! :)
We all go through struggles. Some seem to struggle more than others, but we all have our battles whether big or small, physical, or spiritual. I have had my own set of struggles through this life, but I can also say, the Lord has carried me through each and every one of them with grace! I know He will continue to guide me through the things I am struggling with today!
Many people around me have been facing tremendous struggles, and the Lord has laid a burden on my heart for them! Whether your struggle is sickness, death, financial instability, a big move, or life change, or maybe even the absence a loved one overseas as a missionary or military, know this my friend: God is there! God is with you now in this trial you are facing!
There are no words I can say that can adequately communicate or describe how big, great, and capable our Father is! He is awesome! I can't, I just cannot tell you how amazing my God is! The words simply do not exist! He is powerfully gracious! He is terribly wonderful! He is mightily peaceful! He is the great Physician and the God of war! He was poor but is now preparing a place for us among the mansions in Heaven. He was born in a stable, but now sits on the throne! He died, but He lives! He IS! My God, IS! Praise God, He IS the Great I AM! He is present. He "is", in the present tense, and He is present in the here and now! He presents Himself as a gift to all who believe. How can one describe such greatness? Such grace? Impossible! I am not worthy to even stand in His shadow, and yet He lives within my heart. My Lord wakes me up every morning to speak with me! To have a relationship with me! How can I, a nobody, a simple piece of dirty clay, describe a love so deep, so unchanging, so amazing, and so undeserved, when I have done nothing, absolutely nothing, to earn it? All I did was ask! He is so good!
I know I started out by talking about struggles, and I got carried away. Something the Lord has been showing and teaching me this year though is this: we can't focus on the struggles. We must put our trust in Him, no matter what comes! Prepare for the storms by looking unto Him, and following Him, not by watching the storm clouds roll in! Worry is not a defense mechanism, it is paralyzing us from doing what needs to be done! Quote from the worrier! Haha! I've got to remind myself of that sometimes! It just isn't worth it to worry so much!
I almost started to write a post titled "Vanity". I may still write the post, but what I wanted to talk about comes into play here as well! Isn't it funny, the things we think are so important nowadays? The things we find "worry worthy"? Sometimes I can understand, and see that, yeah, that's definitely a big deal! But is it really? When placed in the perspective of our Father, are our problems truly significant? A lot of the time, I would personally have to say, "No, they aren't!" Because they are earthy problems-Temporary problems! Even some "life-changing" decisions are temporary! Not to say they aren't important! I'm not stating that at all! Take time to make those decisions, but remember the true purpose of our existence, is not to get into that school, buy that car, or even marry that person! Our purpose is to serve our Creator! All else is vanity!
Speaking of the perspective of the Father, if we have the mind of Christ as we should, we too can see trials as lessons, or a time of growth rather than just another bump in the road of life. We can learn to see the beauty in the storm. Beauty is not only found on the easy path! Sometimes the most beautiful sights are found at the end of a long, overgrown, and difficult path! It is easy to feel alone on the overgrown path, as it looks as if you are the only one to have ever tread upon it. These are tough, but you are never alone! Look to the Father who placed you there! He will carry you through it! But He can't do that until you draw nigh unto Him! God never places us in a time of difficulty without purpose! You may not understand, but you can try to make the best of the situation! Use this time to grow, to lean on His understanding, not your own. Use this time to acknowledge the mighty hand of the Creator in your life. Pray and let Christ walk you through it! What a beautiful thing! To have the Lord walk you through the long winding roads of life! Have you ever bonded with a friend over tough and trying times? You come out stronger, don't you? Your relationship with that person is deepened through hardship. Let that be the case with our Father!
One thing I have seen the Lord do time and time again is calm the storm! Not only in the Bible, but in the storms of life! If Jesus could calm the raging sea, what makes you think He is incapable of calming the storm in your heart or life? How do we have so little faith in a God that is so big? My Father has brought me to my knees in shame for my lack of the mind of Christ and lack of faith! It is a continual battle between the flesh and the Spirit, unfortunately. But victory is possible! With Christ, victory is achievable!
I can go on and on about the beauty that can come from trials! We all hear cliche sayings such as "You have to endure the rain before you enjoy the rainbow", or "The sun still shines behind the stormclouds." but it is true! Have you ever just looked at creation, and let it preach to you? That may be a strange way of putting it, but it does preach! I am a weirdo (as we all know), in that, I find storms beautiful. I've always loved a good thunderstorm with lightning and lots of rain! However, when life started sending me some spiritual and a few physical storms, I didn't like it too much! I withdrew and became hard, instead of leaning on the Rock who could shield me from all of that! I am still learning, but my Father has taught me that both metaphorical and literal "storms" have a beauty about them! Where is the beauty in disaster, you ask? In God's mighty hand of comfort and victory! Sometimes, He chooses to simply comfort His children rather than take the storm away, but never doubt His presence! He is working! However, He may be working on you rather than the situation! Trust Him! It is a beautiful thing when the Potter places the clay on the wheel to design a vessel fit for His purpose! In the eyes of man, it may seem harsh and hurtful to be slammed onto the Potter's wheel, but we can't see the finished product! Let Him work! The work of the Master's hands is never without purpose! Beauty in a time of disaster is also found in the glory given to the Father through those trials! Glorify Him even in heartache! Even in times of loss and despair, He is still worthy of our praise and gratification! Remember, you don't know what He has planned!
So, basically, the beauty in the storm, is God our Father! Don't focus on the storm! Look for the Beauty in the Storm! And glorify Him for it! Let us pray for one another as we go about our day. Let us carry one another's burdens to the Lord in prayer! Let's encourage each other! I hope I have encouraged at least one person through this post! Thank you for reading!
Simply,
Sarah
P.s. I have many more busy days and months ahead of me! I will try my best to post on Friday whenever I can, but I may post randomly here and there! Thank you all for understanding! I hope everyone is having a terrific summer! :)
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| Photo Creds go to Jed |
Many people around me have been facing tremendous struggles, and the Lord has laid a burden on my heart for them! Whether your struggle is sickness, death, financial instability, a big move, or life change, or maybe even the absence a loved one overseas as a missionary or military, know this my friend: God is there! God is with you now in this trial you are facing!
There are no words I can say that can adequately communicate or describe how big, great, and capable our Father is! He is awesome! I can't, I just cannot tell you how amazing my God is! The words simply do not exist! He is powerfully gracious! He is terribly wonderful! He is mightily peaceful! He is the great Physician and the God of war! He was poor but is now preparing a place for us among the mansions in Heaven. He was born in a stable, but now sits on the throne! He died, but He lives! He IS! My God, IS! Praise God, He IS the Great I AM! He is present. He "is", in the present tense, and He is present in the here and now! He presents Himself as a gift to all who believe. How can one describe such greatness? Such grace? Impossible! I am not worthy to even stand in His shadow, and yet He lives within my heart. My Lord wakes me up every morning to speak with me! To have a relationship with me! How can I, a nobody, a simple piece of dirty clay, describe a love so deep, so unchanging, so amazing, and so undeserved, when I have done nothing, absolutely nothing, to earn it? All I did was ask! He is so good!
I know I started out by talking about struggles, and I got carried away. Something the Lord has been showing and teaching me this year though is this: we can't focus on the struggles. We must put our trust in Him, no matter what comes! Prepare for the storms by looking unto Him, and following Him, not by watching the storm clouds roll in! Worry is not a defense mechanism, it is paralyzing us from doing what needs to be done! Quote from the worrier! Haha! I've got to remind myself of that sometimes! It just isn't worth it to worry so much!
I almost started to write a post titled "Vanity". I may still write the post, but what I wanted to talk about comes into play here as well! Isn't it funny, the things we think are so important nowadays? The things we find "worry worthy"? Sometimes I can understand, and see that, yeah, that's definitely a big deal! But is it really? When placed in the perspective of our Father, are our problems truly significant? A lot of the time, I would personally have to say, "No, they aren't!" Because they are earthy problems-Temporary problems! Even some "life-changing" decisions are temporary! Not to say they aren't important! I'm not stating that at all! Take time to make those decisions, but remember the true purpose of our existence, is not to get into that school, buy that car, or even marry that person! Our purpose is to serve our Creator! All else is vanity!
Speaking of the perspective of the Father, if we have the mind of Christ as we should, we too can see trials as lessons, or a time of growth rather than just another bump in the road of life. We can learn to see the beauty in the storm. Beauty is not only found on the easy path! Sometimes the most beautiful sights are found at the end of a long, overgrown, and difficult path! It is easy to feel alone on the overgrown path, as it looks as if you are the only one to have ever tread upon it. These are tough, but you are never alone! Look to the Father who placed you there! He will carry you through it! But He can't do that until you draw nigh unto Him! God never places us in a time of difficulty without purpose! You may not understand, but you can try to make the best of the situation! Use this time to grow, to lean on His understanding, not your own. Use this time to acknowledge the mighty hand of the Creator in your life. Pray and let Christ walk you through it! What a beautiful thing! To have the Lord walk you through the long winding roads of life! Have you ever bonded with a friend over tough and trying times? You come out stronger, don't you? Your relationship with that person is deepened through hardship. Let that be the case with our Father!
One thing I have seen the Lord do time and time again is calm the storm! Not only in the Bible, but in the storms of life! If Jesus could calm the raging sea, what makes you think He is incapable of calming the storm in your heart or life? How do we have so little faith in a God that is so big? My Father has brought me to my knees in shame for my lack of the mind of Christ and lack of faith! It is a continual battle between the flesh and the Spirit, unfortunately. But victory is possible! With Christ, victory is achievable!
I can go on and on about the beauty that can come from trials! We all hear cliche sayings such as "You have to endure the rain before you enjoy the rainbow", or "The sun still shines behind the stormclouds." but it is true! Have you ever just looked at creation, and let it preach to you? That may be a strange way of putting it, but it does preach! I am a weirdo (as we all know), in that, I find storms beautiful. I've always loved a good thunderstorm with lightning and lots of rain! However, when life started sending me some spiritual and a few physical storms, I didn't like it too much! I withdrew and became hard, instead of leaning on the Rock who could shield me from all of that! I am still learning, but my Father has taught me that both metaphorical and literal "storms" have a beauty about them! Where is the beauty in disaster, you ask? In God's mighty hand of comfort and victory! Sometimes, He chooses to simply comfort His children rather than take the storm away, but never doubt His presence! He is working! However, He may be working on you rather than the situation! Trust Him! It is a beautiful thing when the Potter places the clay on the wheel to design a vessel fit for His purpose! In the eyes of man, it may seem harsh and hurtful to be slammed onto the Potter's wheel, but we can't see the finished product! Let Him work! The work of the Master's hands is never without purpose! Beauty in a time of disaster is also found in the glory given to the Father through those trials! Glorify Him even in heartache! Even in times of loss and despair, He is still worthy of our praise and gratification! Remember, you don't know what He has planned!
So, basically, the beauty in the storm, is God our Father! Don't focus on the storm! Look for the Beauty in the Storm! And glorify Him for it! Let us pray for one another as we go about our day. Let us carry one another's burdens to the Lord in prayer! Let's encourage each other! I hope I have encouraged at least one person through this post! Thank you for reading!
Simply,
Sarah
P.s. I have many more busy days and months ahead of me! I will try my best to post on Friday whenever I can, but I may post randomly here and there! Thank you all for understanding! I hope everyone is having a terrific summer! :)
