Do you ever feel like this? The only house standing, wondering when the next storm will hit? I have been feeling this way for a couple of weeks. There have been great storms all around me. On days, I have felt battered and bruised by those howling winds. Sometimes the rain beats on the door of my heart and I give way to fear, frustration, and doubt. Though I know He is right there, but I allow the dark clouds of trials to cover my view of His light. I feel as though I am in that house (pictured above) and I can hear and see all of the destruction around me. I feel faint because it seems impossible to hang on. And yet, my Father knows where I am. He sees the calm after the storm. He knows how long it will last. He is still in control.
A friend of mine is going through an enormous storm right now. She has been crushed by the waves. I am still standing, but feel helpless in what to say or do. Please pray for her today. Her name is Ginger. As she wrote in an email, "my Word tells me God is in control, but my heart is faint."
Oh that we may trust the Lord with all of our storms. The little wind storms that blow in and out of our day, as well as the hurricanes that leave destruction in their path.
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.
He knows them that trust in Him.
Nahum 1:7
On a lighter note...
Memoirs of a Southern Domestic Goddess is having a giveaway, so go check her out.
Gretchen....I think we are twins...every time you post about your life curcimstances...I feel like I am reading my own! My stomach hurts and my heart aches. The last three week have been a huge struggle with a loss of friendships in my life. My struggles are tiny compaired to many who suffer in a much greater way. Let us not let these storms tear us down. I love how you always remind me....sometimes it is so hard though. Your presence for Ginger will be enough and I know she treasures your friendship. I will lift her up along with you.
ReplyDeleteRemind your precious friend, the storms still hit and assail...but our God is the one who speaks "Peace be Still"...I will pray for your dear friend that God will intervene on her behalf and that in her heart He will 'still the storm'...
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Debbie
She has been in my prayers continually for the past 2 weeks..I don't always understand the ways of the Lord, but trust that He is in control. Sometimes, life just doesn't make sense..
ReplyDeleteI will say a prayer for Ginger. I have to remind myself when a storm comes that it ALL passes through God's hands before it comes to me. It certainly doesn't make it any easier to understand, but it is of some comfort to know that God is in control of even the storms that hit.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand how you are feeling right now. i appreciate your willingness to be honest and vulnerable through your words. I will be saying a prayer for you today as well as your friend.
ReplyDeleteGirl... I so needed this today! Thank you for allowing God to minister to me through you!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHUGS
Sharon :)
P.S. We will definitely be praying for Ginger!
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder..right now my husband and I are making a huge decision and my stomach hurts and I have not slept...so this was good to read!
ReplyDeleteNothing "bad" just life changing!
-sandy toes
The beauty in that picture is that there is a house standing perfectly and unharmed. How often does Christ protect us and allow us to be the one unharmed with all the devastation that is swarming around us daily? I know as I drive by a homeless person digging thru trash, a person mentioning to me that they are jobless and desparately looking for a job if I know of anything etc, a couple married for 20yrs divorcing because there was infidelity, a husband addicted to porn...it is overwhelming all the pain and destruction that the enemy is trying to root in there and cause. I pray that you will feel the strength that Christ provides as you weather your storm. I pray the very same for your friend. Thank heaven that Christ cares about our storms whether it's a "sprinkle" or a "downpour".
ReplyDeleteI still haven't posted about my hubby losing his job after the holidays....still will, but right now lifting up you and your friend, Ginger.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet words. I am TOO honest with complete strangers...hee heee, but am hoping people in real who either hear me speak or know me from church read this. People who "know" me from afar always come up and ask me "how do you do it all." Even when I share stories of how I mess up all the time. I so want to be real, and I don't want people to put me on this pedestal of perfect living when I know that I struggle so much with SO MANY things. Only by God's grace do I keep my head above water at times.
So, the great thing is I sure don't have to worry about that with blog friends. They see it all. Trust me, my friends IRL who know me....KNOW me...hee hee. I am an open book....people just need to ask.
Your post is like medicine for a sickness. I needed to read this! Not to mention the note above about the fact the house is still standing. I needed those words too! They all linked together. There are days I just shake my head and wonder how it will all work out. God makes a way where there seems to be no way. I need to remind myself of that and remember another note from above. Jesus alone says, "Peace be still."
ReplyDeleteSincerely ~ Tricia Anne
I can totally relate sometimes. I will say a prayer for Ginger right now.
ReplyDelete