The Treasure of His Presence
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A few days ago we had a long day of rain. It was cold and the skies were gray - definitely not my favorite kind of weather! But we needed the rain, so I was grateful. In late afternoon, a friend came to pray with me regarding some things I'm battling. Just as we finished praying, the sun came bursting out and there was s huge full arc beautiful rainbow. It was amazing. I received it as a little "kiss" from the Lord.
I think God often speaks to us through His creation. Someone said "nature is a glove on the hand of God." I love to observe and listen to what God might be saying. If we don't keep a look out, it's easy to miss ways He might be speaking love and encouragement to our hearts through nature.
I continue to be stretched in my faith and walk with the Lord. It's not always easy, but it keeps me close to the Father's heart. Sarah Young says we need to always have our "fork of trust and spoon of thankfulness" handy. I think that's such good advice. As long as I'm trusting the Lord and keeping my heart full of gratitude for His goodness and mercy, it helps me get through the times of stretching. Trust and gratitude are powerful weapons in keeping our hearts free of discouragement, free of gloom and doom when things are hard.
"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him." Psalm 34:8
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." Psalm 28:7
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning." Psalm 130:5,6
Some friends from our early days in Holland came for a visit recently. As we sat chatting, the one common theme that came up again and again was that through the good times and the hard times the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord never stops! He is our solid Rock! He never leaves us, never forsakes us. We can always count on Him. Through the decades since we first met, God has been so good to us. We rejoiced in all the ways He has been with us. What a wonderful God we serve!
I was asked recently what my thinking and motivation was in writing the prayer updates that I send out each week. It was helpful to think back through all that has happened. What a journey it's been!!
When Floyd suddenly became severely ill, I knew he and I both needed prayer. A friend here helped me send out prayer emails, and a friend in the US offered to set up a FaceBook prayer page - the unexpected journey began. Neither they nor I had any clue of what was ahead of us and how long it would be!!
Initially I shared news of Floyd's condition and prayer requests. But within a very short time, I felt the Lord prompting me to share things He was speaking to me along the way, things He was teaching me. Over time the prayer update included prayer requests.....and also recorded the "journey" I was on. I found it helpful to share. It somehow sealed things in my heart as I shared how God was helping and meeting me on the roller coaster I was on. I also began to pray that by sharing my journey it would somehow help others on their difficult journeys.
None of us like hard times, sickness, suffering, sacrifice, financial pressures. I certainly haven't liked the suffering of recent years. But when we offer up to the Lord what we're going through, when we ask Him to somehow use it for His glory - then He redeems the experiences and brings good out of it. I've seen that happen over and over and over again on our long unexpected journey. I see it as His goodness and faithfulness in the midst of the suffering. It helps give grace to keep walking the difficult path.
Every once in a while I ask the Lord if I'm to keep writing the updates. So far, I've felt He has said I should. Part of the difficult journey is over now that Floyd has passed away. But the journey of grief and my journey with battling cancer and facing various other pressures continues. I still feel in the midst of a battle many days.
The wonderful "benefit" of writing the updates has been the prayer support. I can't begin to tell you what a blessing, strength, and comfort all the prayers have been to me. I'm convinced I couldn't have made it without them. I am eternally grateful for all the prayers that have lifted my weary arms. Thank you from the depths of my heart!!
"They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples...."We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said." Acts 14:21,22
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33 AMP
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen, no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:17-19
The one overwhelmingly wonderful thing on our unexpected journey is that it has drawn me closer and closer to the Lord. That is priceless! I wouldn't trade that for anything. It is the gold that has been mined from the deep pits of suffering. His daily presence and closeness is a treasure.