Ever wonder if the Lord is "testing" you? I'd like your insight on what you think, as far as trials in our lives are concerned, and whether or not they're a "test." I've heard different things from different people on this.
I have tried to stand firm in my beliefs through one of the most difficult things in my life that some people may call a "test" (losing my daughter). I've said before the reason that I believe things like this happen in our lives, though, and it is because of sin in this world and we're not promised no heartache or bad things in this life. However, I believe that all those "bad things" that happen to us are still apart of the GOOD He has planned for our lives. But even as I write those words, and have more recent, heavy things on my heart, that fact is still hard to swallow sometimes. Do I fully believe it 100% with all my heart? YES. Is it difficult to put into action at times, though? YES. God knows this about me and I'm thankful that He doesn't get mad at me and turn His back on me when I am resistant to following Him or His plan at first.
You may think I've touched on all this a lot lately, and how much can I beat this point into the ground? Well, not near enough. There are people hurting, circumstances breaking people's hearts or changing their lives, relationships failing, TONS of secret, yet painful hurt out there and the Lord wants to use it all for His GOOD. When you're still in the cloudiness of all the sorrow though as I feel some days, it may be hard to see through it all. It may be difficult to keep persevering, trusting or staying faithful. I am NOT superwoman. My faith is "tested," so to speak, on a daily basis.
This was a recent devotion that I felt was appropriate with what I am talking about. Although it's not me worrying or hurting for my own child (yet), it's concern over God's choices or actions for my own life and the things going on and how I'll respond that I deal with. Read this below and maybe what I just said will make more sense.
A Mom's Conversation with God by Lysa TerKeurst
"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
A few weeks ago, my daughter Ashley injured her shoulder while gearing up for her largest gymnastics meet of the season. She's had an amazing time with gymnastics over the past 10 years, winning several state titles and progressing to each next level with great excitement. But this year has been an uphill battle. Finally, at the end of the season things seemed to be clicking along like she'd planned. But with one slip off the bar and a pretty bad landing, her shoulder was injured. We soon realized that no amount of rehab could get her ready in time. So, with tears and great disappointment, she had to scratch from the meet. I've said it before and I'll say it again, that I know in the great scheme of life, this is such a small thing. But in Ashley's world, this was big. Therefore, it led me to have one of those conversations with the Lord that I'm sure many moms have had at one time or another. If your child has ever had to walk through the yuck of disappointment, maybe you can relate.
The Mom: Lord, I have to tell you it is a hard thing for a mother to watch her child work so hard for something only to have her dreams dashed by an injury.
The Lord: Do the words of Job 17:11 express the way you are feeling? "My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart."
The Mom: Lord, You could make her better. You could strengthen her shoulder and make her well enough to compete. Lord, don't You see her tears? If seeing her sadness breaks my heart, I know it must break Your heart, too. It is hard for me to understand when I know that You could fix this in an instant.
The Lord: Recall the beauty of trusting the only One who can see what is and what is to come. Remember my words in Nahum 1:7: "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
The Mom: I do trust you Lord. But for all that work to end like this is so hard. It just seems so pointless.
The Lord: Oh, nothing I do is pointless. Nothing you go through is pointless. This lesson will work good for her now and it will work good for her in the future. You only think you know what is best for her. But I have such a grand plan and purpose in all this. Proverbs 19:20-21: "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
The Mom: I just need to know why she has to go through this.
The Lord: You don't have to have answers, Lysa. You just need to trust. Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
The Mom: But what about the desires of her heart Lord?
The Lord: I am the only One who even knows the full scope of those desires, Lysa. Your job isn't to figure out how to make her desires come to pass. Your job is to simply teach her to trust Me and make wise choices. Psalm 37: 3-4: "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Park City Utah
2 years ago
1 comment:
dearest melissa...
i have been reflecting on thoughts like this a lot, it seems. i don't know if i think that it is a "test", or just the fact that the Lord desires us to grow closer to Him. i believe that should be my main objective. i KNOW that if i ever have to "struggle" in this life, i believe that builds a way for myself or someone else to draw themselves closer to Him.
my girlfriend and i just had this conversation on saturday. we reflect on so many things...all of the time...and we were talking about the "roads" that have brought us today. we may look back and see where "what if things would have been different, maybe i would be in a place i think would be better than this" and then we can see because of the "road" we took...it brought us to a place where we LONGED to depend and trust in Him and His ways, His strength became our strength. if we would have had things "easier" than we have...would we be as close to Him as we are now? sure, there is always room to grow stronger and closer with Him, but we could also be so much further. i hope this is making sense...i am rambling, i know. i just think that there are things that i look back in my life, that i would change if i could and make different choices, but because of the way my life has played out so far, i feel it is because of those things, that i have learned to depend on Him when i have and trust in Him. i believe that He will use whatever is in our life, even the bad, or what seems bad to us, to bring us closer to Him.
it's still hard sometimes to make myself see that, but when i take the time and truly reflect...i always come to this conclusion.
i am sure that you have heard what has recently happened in steven curtis chapman's family...his oldest son backing up and hitting their youngest daughter and killing her, by accident. what heartache that family must be going through...i can't even imagine...but then i think...God will use this somehow in someway, to glorify Him. my heart goes out to them...i am sure that there are so many aspects to deal with in that situation. and i will pray for them...and so thankful that they have the Lord to bring them through that and be their strength and their hope. i can't imagine how people go through anything in their life with out a relationship with Jesus Christ. even when i fail Him, daily, He has NEVER failed me...and His gift of salvation has given me so much hope and faith that my God is big enough to carry through my hard times and He loves me so much that He will work it so that those times will only strengthen my relationship with Him.
well...i hope that made some sense...! i hope i wasn't too all over the place! i enjoy you sharing your devotions! i wanted to ask you if you follow these out of a book or where do you get your devotions from? and if so...do you mind sharing the book name?
i hope that you are having a good day today! praying for you!
shannon s.
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