DON'T LOSE HOPE

Trust in the LORD with all your 

heart; do not depend on your 

own understanding. Seek his 

will in all you do, and he will 

show you which path to take. 

-- Proverbs 3:5-6

"Don't lose hope" were the words that greeted me when I opened my Daily Truth devotional this morning. "When you are down to nothing, God is up to something so great, you can't even imagine the effects it will have on your life." 

My quiet time today was filled with encouraging reminders and Scriptures.  It was as though the Lord was giving me a much needed pep talk to shake me out of my slump. 

Also from my Daily Truth devotional: "Does everything around you look bleak? This is the perfect time for God to step in and take over." Although He did not promise that life would be a bed of roses, He has promised to carry us through the storm if we put our trust in Him.

When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you. -- Psalm 91:15

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. -- Hebrews 13:5b

My Utmost for His Highest devotional spoke to me through the example of Peter (in Matthew 14:29-30), who stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus, but started to sink when he got distracted by the strong wind and waves (Matthew 14:29-30). It reminded me that no matter how overwhelming my circumstances may seem, God is in control and I have nothing to fear as  long as I keep my gaze on Jesus and my full trust in Him, 

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. -- Psalm 42:11   

Today I choose to look at my problems as opportunities to see God at work. No matter what is going on around me, I will praise Him. The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). 

I FEEL WEARY

"Come to me, all you who are weary 

and burdened, and I will give you 

rest. -- Matthew 11:28, NIV

On May 31st my virtual job of 23 years doing data entry and transcription came to an end. June 1st was supposed to be the first day of a new chapter of my life. A blank page waiting to be written on.  

For days I anticipated the beginning of this new chapter and being able to write about it in the brand new notebook that had been part of the parting gift the company that was closing its doors sent us. I prayed for the Lord to give me a special verse for this new season, and scribbled notes about how I would start off my narrative.

There was supposed to be a prologue I would write on the eve of June 1st containing my thoughts about all the endings in a long string of endings, all the dreams and resolutions that came to naught, and the things that didn't turn out the way they were expected to (except they probably had, according to God's perfect plan). It was supposed to be a time of getting all of it out of my system and leaving it behind so the new chapter about to begin really would be as blank as the new page in my new notebook.

Well, June 1st came and went, and despite my best intentions I procrastinated, just as I have procrastinated so many times before about so many things, and there was no verse, and this chapter did not start off any differently than the ones that went before. In fact, if anything, my challenges seem to have multiplied.

I feel so, so weary, discouraged, and overwhelmed. Like a bop bag that has been bopped so many times it has developed a slow leak that is making it harder and harder to pop back up again. And so here I am back to this blog, seeking comfort at the foot of the Cross. I lay it all down at His feet and pray for another chance to get it right.

On this day, almost three weeks later than I intended, I am starting to write on the first blank page of my notebook--except that this blog will serve as my notebook instead. And the verse I feel led to use for this stretch of my journey, even though it's not actually a Scripture verse, is a quote a blog friend wrote on my other blog in response to my request for suggestions: There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind. -- C.S. Lewis

I am so grateful that God never gives up on us, that He is so patient and longsuffering, that His mercies and grace are new every morning, that He loves us unconditionally, and that great is His faithfulness. I pray that as I share what the Lord is teaching me and doing in my life it will encourage you as well. 

Even though we can't change what has already been written in our story, we can change the way it ends. It is never too late for a fresh start. All things are possible with God!