The Reward for Surviving Rough Seas

The Reward for Surviving Rough Seas
We are all like sea shells tossed about in rough waters and being re-shaped in wondrous ways. But have you ever contemplated the notion that sea shells have to complete their journey through the rough waters before they get to rest on the shore? Yeah, we are ALL like sea shells and Heaven is The Great Shore.

Friday, June 15, 2012

I Believe, Help My Unbelief

Greetings Everybody,
Today has been a day of challenges.
And the evil one is trying so very hard to fill me with anxiety.


Several areas of concern going on:
-Rapidly Aging Parents
-Daughter due to give birth on Tuesday (planned C-section, but could be sooner)
-Possible Career change...ready if God leads me there.
-This week the big freezer died and this morning the refrigerator did too.
-Lots of challenges going on.


At times like this, I often claim Isaiah 40:30-31
...and imagine flying high above the cares of the world
...flying on the Wings of Eagles with the wind in my face and the earth beneath me


"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:30-31


And I remember that this promise is for those who HOPE/WAIT in the Lord...which implies TRUST/FAITH.


"And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You." Psalm 39:7


I like to say that I Trust God completely.
I want to believe that!
I try really HARD to live that!
But if I did Trust God 100% there would be no anxiety in me right now.
And so I am reminded that I still have room for more Faith to grow.


It is comforting to recall the New Testament story about a specific Father who asked Jesus to help his son because the demons would throw him the fire.
Jesus spoke to him about the situation and the dad ended up saying the following:
 "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24


And there it is.
I so identify with this dad...
I believe.
Help my unbelief.
I believe.
But there is still room for more faith to grow.


This reminds me that Jesus understands about how hard it is for humans to totally 100% suspend all worries, doubts, fears, and anxiety.  
Afterall, Even JESUS went through some of this on the Mt. of Olives the night before he was betrayed...
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 
Luke 22:42


Yet Jesus submitted to God's Will...endured dying on the cross...was in the grave for 3 days...rose from the dead and walked among men for 40 days...and THEN ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. 


I think Jesus has a real good scope on the words of Isaiah about those Eagles Wings!


Well, there's my lesson for this post...
I'll close with 4 quick sentences and one last scripture: 
-Learning to live in loving submission to God's Will is NOT for the weak.
-It takes courage, strength, stamina, hope, trust and faith
-Yet, "waiting upon the Lord" is richly rewarding.
-For God will take care of all of our needs
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19


In Him,
Grace

7 comments:

Christine said...

The Bible has several verses on letting God and letting go.
I love how you have presented this.

Bless you and all your concerns.

Grace said...

Thank you Christine,
I was troubled until I started writing. And then...as I was writing and quoting scripture, the troubles went away. (lol go figure lol)

Calling on the power of His Word is a mighty thing :)

In Him
Grace

Heaven's Walk said...

What a beautiful post, Grace! I truly believe that God speaks to us via our writing and authoring our blogs. It's healing and inspiring. Thank you for sharing these beautiful words today. I'm looking forward to reading more from you.

Oh, and my husband and I both worked in a public school system for 30 years. What a wonderful career it was for both of us!

xoxo laurie

Heaven's Walk said...

Grace - I was just looking at all of your photos on your sidebar. You certainly have traveled to many beautiful places in the United States. What a blessing that must be to you! Where do you live, anyway...?

xoxo laurie

Grace said...

Oh Miss Laurie...how wonderful to meet a fellow educator.
And I am totally snazzier that you dropped by lolol.

Thank you for your kind words.
And btw I believe that you are correct about God speaking via our writing and authoring our blogs. I started blogging last October, and find that it is an amazing thing to be a part of. (God gets the credit for supplying the ideas and words lol.)

Thank you for stopping by and I am excited to make your acquaintance.

In Him,
Grace

Grace said...

Laurie... Yeah we have traveled a bit. Lol being teachers we get to do that. The secret is that We have timeshares all over the place lol.

But my FAV place to vacation is Hawaii.

A few years ago we spent 3 weeks there...3 different islands...and I came back with over 10,000 photos lolol. Of that about 7000 were really good ones.

But to answer your question...we live in Texas:)

In Him,
Grace

Grace said...

Goofy auto -complete feature keeps changing my words.
I typed "snazzed" and it changed it to "snazzier"
Snazzed Snazzed Snazzed

3 times it tried to change that word to "snazzier" again
Sheesh.
Since I typed 3 times, maybe I taught it a new word now
We'll see
Lolol