When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 (ESV)
I used to have a fear of flying. It took me 40 years to even board a plan but once I did, I found that it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. That is, until we encountered air turbulence!
My heart started to beat at a fast rate and I had to tell myself to breathe and pray. It lasted a couple of minutes but it felt like an hour.
I faced a battle every year on Mother’s Day – feelings of inadequacy and failure that came from piercing words spoken to me years ago.
One year however, those feelings started the week before Mother’s Day. I felt such a cloud of darkness hovering over me and by mid-week I was crying uncontrollably.
No one knew what I was going through. I was suffering in silence. I prayed and told the Lord that I didn’t want to go through this again and I asked Him to show me what was causing the battle year after year.
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)
It was a memorable year to say the least. We experienced a flood of changes in our family. Some were heartbreaking, some were challenging, and others were bittersweet.
These changes included emergency surgery, a job change, a church change, graduation, college and two deaths in our family to name a few.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Psalm 68:19
A coworker walked up to me and handed me a box. To my utter surprise and pleasure, I found a brand new pair of black pumps inside.
I hadn’t told anyone that I needed a new pair of shoes much less the color or style. My current pair were beginning to look shabby but I couldn’t afford to go out and buy a new pair just yet.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! I John 3:1 (NIV)
The flowers kept coming in, one bouquet after another. And not one of them had my name on it. It was Valentine’s Day and I dreaded it. I was single and I felt like the day was going to be a taunting reminder of that.
I was happy for my coworkers who were receiving these beautiful flower arrangements. All the roses were fragrant and brightened up the office. But deep down inside I was hiding the truth: I did not feel loved.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3
I love to read. At any given time I have 2-3 books on my nightstand and the topics range from inspirational, educational, self-improvement to the occasional Christian fiction.
I was relaxing one evening and started reading a Christian fiction novel. I was thoroughly enjoying the book and the down time from a busy week that I was totally unprepared for what I was about to read.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2
I was a single mom having a difficult week emotionally. I woke up everyday agitated, frustrated and short tempered. I prayed, I cried and I complained to the Lord about everything.
After all, doesn’t His Word give us permission to complain?
I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. Psalm 142:2