Faith Through Times of Struggle

By Pat
 
My husband and I are struggling financially right now, a situation we didn't think we'd find ourselves in again after many years of our business doing well. We are worried about how to pay certain bills, and we realize that at 51 years old, it will be difficult to find new work, possibly even new careers. And yet, despite the current hardships, I cannot help but continue to feel blessed. I see the world around me, and I am made aware how much worse it could be. As I look around the dinner table at family, smell the food I have prepared, I feel blessed. I feel rich.

I am forced at this time to re-evaluate myself, my gifts, my talents, and for this time of reflection and seeking God's guidance, I am grateful. Perhaps God will lead us into something which provides greater service to Him. Perhaps our business will pick up. We don't know. But what we DO know is this; God is in it, and blessings abound! We may be struggling now, but the love of family, the caring prayers of friends, the faith that wavers but yet remains, and the promises of God in the Bible remind us daily that we are, indeed, very rich!

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Are You Wondering?

By Pat

I recently went through a very difficult, emotionally trying time, and although it's over now and the outcome mostly favorable, spiritual questions remain for me. We all know, as Christians, that we are to trust in God and give Him our cares. We all know that God has our best interest at heart. But we also know that sometimes things don't go the way we want them to, and that even God's faithful followers don't always get their way. Well, what then? During the five months of the difficult period I went through, I prayed fervently.

Desperately. I prayed for God to make sure that the outcome was as I requested it to be, for I knew that was what was needed, and I knew that God knew that, too. But after a time, I began to also pray for God to enable me to accept whatever happened; not only accept it, but continue to trust God and not allow anger, pain, bitterness and resentment to affect my faith. And quite honestly, I wasn't sure what I would do, how I would go on if wrong decisions were made. What would I do? A horrible way to feel.

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Are Your Roots Planted?

By Pat

In the back portion on my mother's yard was a huge weeping willow tree. For many years, it stood beautifully, but eventually it became diseased and unhealthy. Parts of it began to die, and it became weakened. Finally, a few months ago, a storm with very gusty winds toppled the tree. It lay there for a couple of months until my mother found someone who wanted the wood and agreed to cut up and haul away the tree. But in that period of time between the falling and the hauling, we watched in amazement as portions of that seemingly dead tree sprouted new growth. Although the root ball was out of the ground, evidently the tiny amount of root still in the ground helped to bring life to parts of the tree. It reminded me so much of us humans

We sometimes are toppled, blown over by the strong winds of life, and we feel at times as if God has deserted us. We appear to ourselves and others spiritually dead. But we're not! As long as our roots are planted firmly and deeply in Jesus, we never have to fear the storms of life. Jesus will continue to be at work in us, and will allow our weaknesses to build new strength, new growth. We need only to cling to our Lord. After all, if He can raise the dead to life, He can certainly see us through our storms and make us stronger than ever!

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Standing In Silence

By Pat

One of my favorite old hymns is called "In the Garden," and there is a line in it that I particularly love that says "He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing." When I think of that line, I can actually envision Jesus stepping into a clearing in a beautiful forest, and the birds stopping their songs, in awe of their Lord.

What a lovely and serene picture that is. Why can't I be more like those birds? Why do I allow the disruptions in my life to distract me from the silence I need to simply stand in silent, reverent awe of my Lord? Random thoughts enter my head. Background noises distract me and turn my attention away from God. Sometimes I just can't concentrate, even though I know that Jesus stands before me whether I can see Him or not. And so, I am learning, or at least trying to learn, to focus more fully on the Lord, and simply stop. Stop thinking, stop moving, stop singing. Just stop and be like the worshipful birds I have pictured in my head being still for Jesus. After all, God said "Be STILL and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Go Ahead, Jump!

By Pat

We recently put a swimming pool up in our backyard, mostly for our little grandchildren. One day last week, my three year old grandson Gabe was jumping from the ladder while I caught him. Each time, he would yell "Catch me, Grammy!" and I, of course, would catch him, much to his delight. But as he went to jump one time, my hands were down in the water where he couldn't see them. No matter how many times I tried to convince him to jump and assure him that I would catch him, he refused to jump.

We resumed our game with my arms outstretched for a while, but I decided to try again to get Gabe to jump while my hands were out of his sight. Finally, he did, at which point it became a game of "Hide your hands, Grammy!" Gabe learned quickly that he could trust me to catch him, no matter what.

It made me think of my relationship with God, and I how sometimes refuse to make the moves I need to make, take the steps I need to take because of fear. No matter how many times God says "Trust me," I am still aftraid to jump because I can't always see his outstretched hands.

I wish I could be more like Gabe, refusing to allow fear to keep him from jumping. I wait to receive what I feel is just the right word from God, and in doing so miss many opportunities to serve Him. My comfort zone imprisons me. I need to try harder to jump, knowing that even if God's arms are hidden in the water, He'll catch me anyway.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.