People are going through so much these days. Parenting issues, financial issues, relationship problems, and homeschool struggles… just to name a few. I’ve seen and heard from a lot of struggling people. Lots of hardships. The sad stories keep coming. Just when I think I’ve heard the worst… someone else shares yet another sad situation. Heck, I’ve been struggling, too, with some things.
Life is hard… no doubt about that.
I don’t think God has promised us greatness or a life free from storms, by following Him. I don’t remember hearing, “follow Me and things will be perfect.” But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to deal with storms, when they come.
Recently, my family encountered a big financial storm. Like many in this struggling economy… we were facing huge loss. We felt led by God to make a huge decision. When the journey started we didn’t see how things would ever work out in our favor. But I remembered God’s promises. We trusted in His plan and His will. And each time I felt discouraged… and there were plenty of those times… I remembered these verses.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 ESV
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” ~ Isaiah 54:17
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28
And you know what? God worked it all out. He took care of everything. Things are not perfect now. But the weight of the huge financial storm is off of our shoulders. I wasted so much time worrying about the outcome. I didn’t need to worry. God had it covered. He knew the end. He knew the outcome. We were released of the burden… the storm is gone.
“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.” ~ Deuteronomy 15:1 ESV
This verse is too funny to me now. And I wonder why I didn’t see it coming. The exact dates of this storm… seriously… were August 22, 2005 to August 22, 2012! Now that it’s finally over… and we feel that it is… we feel the release. It was all His plan. But it was all for not. I look at the person I’ve become through this storm. I persevered… and you can too!
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5: 3-5 ESV
“It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!” ~ Abraham Lincoln, in a speech in Milwaukee, 1859.
All storms are temporary… even if they seem long!
Beautiful…I love the way God has encircled the entire Bible with 7’s including teaching our children…and renewing…and yes..what you speak of. Jenn, you have been a beautiful picture during this time…someone asking, desiring and yet following Christ – seeking prayer, but always first going to God! Thank you for sharing this….everyone is suffering something…it’s always beautiful to hear someone’s testimony!