This week has been one of those weeks that hasn't felt so great but in the same breath I know with all my heart that the Lord has brought what He has brought because He's so madly in love with me and He knows that nothing less than refining is in order for my life right now. This week I have felt His presence like I haven't felt it in a long time.
There is an issue in our life that He is clearly asking Joey and I to trust Him in. It's not easy... the truth is, fear and doubt and frustration fight their way in... often. They try to pry us apart... but we fight to stick together on the matter.
Fear tugs, I pray.
Doubt creeps in and wants to stay... I cry, first with myself and then to Him.
I ask Him to relieve my fears to show me His Word... And in His faithfulness this is what He brings...
This weeks Bible Study put us in 2Peter 2:11-25. There's a lot in that little chapter but a few phrases stood out to me...
"Entrust yourself... (to the)... Overseer of your soul." (v. 23&25)
What on earth does it mean Lord, to entrust myself to you? It means...
"To put into the care or protection of someone"...
Lord, I want to, I must, put myself "into your care," You, The Overseer of my soul!
And in His kindness He also led me to Psalm 27.
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD."
That's the key to making it through any sort of hardship...
"... Be strong and take heart AND WAIT for the Lord!"
I am constantly finding myself defining patience for my children. The definition that we have been practicing with them is this...
"Patience means, I will wait with a cheerful heart."
And let me tell you how convicting it has been this week each time that I hear those words coming out of their mouths...
If I am expecting them to learn patience, then I too must learn to wait on the Lord with a cheerful heart.
In His timing I know that
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
(Meaning that I don't have to wait until heaven to see His goodness... He will shower His goodness on me here on earth... in the land of the living!)
Refining... What a place to be...
