Carried by His Joy

I have always been intrigued by the "suddenlys" in the Bible.  Things are going along, and suddenly there is a change or something happens.  It may be at the word of the Lord or by a move of the spirit, but suddenly everything is different.  It seems there are between 87 and 167 occurrences of a suddenly, depending on how it's translated.  That's a lot!   I think God is pointing out that what seemed impossible can be made possible when He breaks into a situation with His power and might.  God shows up and instantly things are changed.

There are different words used, different meanings - in an instant, to disturb, to hasten, speedily, quickly, to flee, to be in trepidation - but all mean suddenly! 

One of my favorites is from Acts 16:26 - "Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were loosened."

Can you imagine what a shock that was?  Wow - quite a suddenly!

I also love Acts 2:2 - "Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting."

The Spirit filling the whole house must have been amazing!  I'm always blessed when I sense the Spirit in my midst - whether alone or in a gathering.

Because I love Christmas so much, I love the passage in Luke 2:13,14 - "Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.' "

The shepherds must have been awestruck!

As I've been studying these passages in both the New and Old Testaments, I've been praying for my own suddenly - that God would come suddenly with His healing power in my body.  That He would suddenly reverse the tumor growth!  It's a big ask, but I'm asking.

"Suddenly will my righteousness come near, and my salvation will be shining out like the light."  Isaiah 51:5

I read the phrase somewhere "Christlike in the crisis."  That's what I'm praying for!  May God help my heart, my attitude, my responses to be Christlike in everything I'm facing. 

During one of the load shedding times this week, I listened to a podcast.  The speaker was addressing trauma and its impact on us.  He spoke specifically of the pandemic, but applied the principles to other traumas as well.  He warned against the accumulation of disappointments in our lives - not dealing with them - and how that can be destructive. 

I appreciated what he shared.  When I was laying in bed after load shedding that night, I reflected on the podcast.  I was struck by the fact that I've come through 8 years of trauma, and I'm not carrying a heavy load in my heart from those years.  I realized God has helped me time by time to take things to Him.  He lifted the weights from my heart, and tenderly carried me through each situation, each hard time, each disappointment, each trauma.  He has sustained me!  He has been so good to me.

I laid in bed and had the sweetest time of worship - thanking the Lord for His goodness, His grace, and His mercy to me.  I am so, so grateful that He has been with me each day of those 8 years.  I thought back to specific instances that were so hard.....times when I had cried buckets of tears.....times when I didn't think I could keep going.....times when I felt so alone without Floyd.....times when I didn't know what to do.....times when I was so weak physically.  God met me in His faithfulness in each instance.  I could never have survived without His great love and care.  A friend commented - He has been my "trauma absorber."

As I come back to my present situation - I have concerns about my health.  I'm not sure what's ahead.  I truly have to live one-day-at-a-time and take care of myself in that day.  But I've also become aware that there is a sweet joy of the Lord surrounding me.  I feel I'm being carried by His joy - which is my strength.  He is with me in the midst of this ongoing affliction.  He helps me keep my eyes on Him.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."  Romans 15:13

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  Romans 12:12

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...."  Galatians 5:22

My heart is overflowing with gratitude to the Lord - for His sustaining grace these 8 years.....and for His joy in these present days.  He is beyond good and faithful - He is my everything!