Live Joyfully in the Midst of Struggles

This is what I read in Sarah Young's "Jesus Today" today.... #116

"I am calling you to live joyfully in the midst of your struggles.

You yearn for a freer, more independent way of life than you're currently experiencing.

You pray fervently--and then wait hopefully for the changes you desire.

When I don't answer your prayers according to your will, you sometimes get discouraged.

It's easy for you to feel as if you're doing something wrong--

as if you're missing out on what is best for you.  

When you think that way, you are forgetting a most important truth:

That I am Sovereign.

I am in control, and

I am taking care of you."

This past weekend was very stressful for us.  As most of you know, we take care of my 93 year old mother in law on the weekends, and she is getting progressively more fragile, dependent and extremely needy.  My time is consumed with caring for her needs, and by the end of the weekend I am pretty well exhausted.  I was so much so this past weekend that I am still feeling the effects on my body and in my spirit.  Those of you who have cared for elderly loved ones can relate.  Our whole family is affected by this in a negative way, and we know that some changes are going to have to be made soon.  But we are reluctant to take those steps, and I find myself praying that God will intervene for her and on our behalf...and be merciful for His children's sake. I know God understands my heart in this, and I don't believe He thinks badly of me for having these feelings.  But He wants me to trust Him to do what is best for all concerned.

This is part of the reason I believe I was directed to choose the word "REST" for my "One Word" for 2017.  Not only is it for a spiritual resting in Christ, but also for a physical rest...which actually coincides with the spiritual.  Because when our physical bodies need rest, our spirit usually needs rest as well.  

Today I was uplifted and blessed to be a part of our monthly gathering of our "Lovely Ladies of the Lord" group.   After we meet for a time of prayer, Bible study and sharing our concerns and joys, we usually continue our fellowship at a local restaurant for lunch...

I know the Lord planned this gathering for this week, because I truly needed this time of respite and joy in the midst of my struggles.  These ladies always give me a blessing just by their words of love and comfort and prayer. We are there for each other...and I am humbled by the true beautiful hearts of these dear women of the Lord.  We all learn so much just from sharing our burdens and cares...and laying them at the feet of Jesus. 

I have come away from this meeting today with my burdens lifted, knowing that, 

Yes, God IS sovereign, and yes, God IS in control, 

and most definitely God IS taking care of me!

And I can live joyfully in the midst of struggles!

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever!"

Psalm 118:1

Amen.

Numbers 9:23a: "At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed..." (KJV)


Have you ever randomly selected a verse of Scripture and it just leapt out at you in such a way that you knew God was talking to you? I don't recommend that type of Bible reading or study as a general practice, but sometimes I do believe that God uses our random meanderings through His Word to get our attention and give us an important message. Numbers 9:23a was one of those verses God used to prepare me for His will.

Quite a few years ago now, due to circumstances beyond our control (and yet still in God's control), we had taken a step of faith and moved to a location that we dearly loved. Our prior ministry had come to a standstill, and no other doors were opened unto us. We had to make a move somewhere, so we chose to go to a small town where our older sons were attending a Christian college, and where we hoped we would find work at that college. We settled into a nice rented home and the Lord provided secular jobs in the community that would provide the basics until something better developed for us. We were determined to stay there until we got what we wanted--no matter how difficult it would be in the interim working at jobs that were totally out of our field of calling. Our whole family was together; we loved our new town and were starting to make friends. After all, we were living in the town we had dreamed of living and working in for many years. It was like a dream come true.


I had placed a little box of scripture verse cards on the windowsill above my kitchen sink, and each day I would pull out a new card with a verse for the day to read and learn. On this particular day, Numbers 9:23 happened to be the chosen verse. As I read the words I almost dropped the little card like it had burned my fingers, so shocked was I at the message...."At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed...". I immediately stuffed that card right back in the box and refused to look at it again! Deep within the message struck home...we were not going to be able to stay where we were...we were "resting in the tents" away from the ministry...but the time to "journey" again was coming soon. I didn't even tell my husband. God would tell him soon enough. Sure enough, within two or three days we received a call from a District Superintendent in a far away district asking if we were still willing to candidate for a church position. Even though we had just moved less than a month before, we knew we had to say yes. It seems as though this particular church had been trying to locate us for several weeks, and even the knowledge that we had just made a major move farther away did not swerve them from their desire to meet us. To make a long story short, in just two short months from the time we had moved away from the ministry, God had moved us right back into it.

Perhaps you have also gone through periods of "resting in the tents", and maybe right now you're wondering if God will ever again give you the command to journey. One thing I have learned through this experience is that God does not lose track of His children, no matter where they may be resting or journeying. The fact that the Israelites rested in the tents at the commandment of the Lord tells me that God designs those times of rest for a purpose, to better prepare us for the journey ahead, to help us recuperate from the journey left behind, and to give us a time of respite so that we can reflect on His purpose and direction for our lives. Sometimes we need to experience "the real world" for a season to be better servants in His kingdom here on earth. Oftentimes our periods of resting come to us through circumstances that we did not initiate or anticipate...health problems, accidents, incidents of conflict within our jobs or homes, or even an educational sabbatical. We may not always be able to explain to our friends, family, or colleagues just why we need to "rest" or "journey". It was comforting to me to find this verse that explains that it is at the commandment of the Lord that we rest or journey. No matter what the earthly circumstances may be that lead us to make those decisions or have those decisions made for us, it is always at the "commandment of the Lord" that we servants of God make any move to rest or to journey. Thank you, Lord, for your sovereignty in my life.

Have you had any such times of "resting in the tents"...times for which you had no obvious explanation other than it appeared to be your only choice?  Have you looked back upon that time that was in the past, and now realize that it was God's way of preparing you for your present situation...whether it was so you could rest up for the journey ahead...or recuperate from the journey left behind...it was all a part of His plan and design for your life?  Either way...stop and take stock of your circumstances, whether good or bad, pleasant or sad...and consider what God may be doing to help you in your walk with Him through these "detours" in your life. Give thanks...and look ahead...the sun may be rising on a new horizon for you. God bless you and have a great journey!