The challenges were piling up and I was feeling scared and alone:
- Our last pet passed to greener pastures and we have agreed not to have another pet for a while.
- Our home had been on the market for two months and there were no takers.
- We had bought another home and money was pouring out in renovations.
- Meanwhile at the old home: the garage door sprung, the air conditioning kept turning off and on as if it were possessed, the cold water hose under the kitchen sink burst and took a week to get the part in.
- My husband received a new cancer diagnosis.
I was beginning to crack.
I could feel the tension mount, the impatience threatening to leak out around the attempts to remain calm. I wanted to blame the devil. I wanted to blame the house. I wanted to scream, throw stuff, curse, or just curl up in a ball. And so I did what I have done since I was a teenager – escape to the outdoors to walk and sort out my thoughts and feelings. More importantly, I needed to talk with God without interruption or distraction.
I began at an angry, fury-fired pace but as I began to sort through my emotions and lifted up my fears to God I settled into a smooth, brisk cadence. As I looked upward, I noticed grey cloudy skies everywhere. But behind the dark and ominous clouds were beautiful, rich, pink fluffy clouds. Beauty magnified by the darkness. It was then that I realized that while there was much in my life that seemed dark and scary, there was also much to feel blessed about. It was a reminder that God is in there amidst the challenges.
- To see through the pain of a dog’s passing, remembering the joy and memories she brought to our lives and know that she is no longer struggling to breath.
- To thank God that the kitchen faucet hose blew just before we left for an evening with neighbors rather than finding a flood three hours later, extensive damage that would require taking the home off the market and considerable cost to repair.
- Appreciating a good repairperson who helped us determine the most effective solution to the a/c problem rather than griping about the need and cost to fix it.
- Or feeling blessed because a new cancer diagnosis is the least invasive and slowest growing and curable!
These are the blessings through the stressing! Seeing the blessings amidst the pain is seeing God throughout the day. It matters not if it is God or the devil at work in our life; it is what God does in the midst of trouble that matters.
Look for Him. Remain standing with Him no matter what the day may bring. See the beauty in the storm. God shows up in our times of trouble regardless of our circumstance. God wants us in His presence and we desperately need Him to be in our midst to feel the joy despite the pain. Let us honor Him by giving Him glory by how we live for Him and in Him.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6
Loretta,
This was a very good reminder for me this morning. Prayers for you and thank you!
Lynn Maloney
May 31, 2017 at 9:58 amI am blessed that my words touched you and helped. Many blessings, Lynn.
May 31, 2017 at 10:07 amI felt this way when my nephew was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. I kept praying and felt that God was dismissing what I was saying. I got angry…Then, I talked with a friend who told me it was ok to be mad with God. She told me to tell God all my thoughts, and I did. It made me feel a little better. The situation didn’t change, and my nephew died in 9 months. I still don’t understand why God took my 44 year old nephew, but it is what it is. I’m sure my nephew is working with people in Heaven and watching over us (and his 3 year old daughter and wife) as we go through our time here. I just hope that when my time comes, God finds me worthy of his grace and accepts me into Heaven.
May 31, 2017 at 12:16 pmBeautifully said, Linda. We cannot know why but we can gain wisdom from these times. I wholeheartedly believe that your nephew has been called to higher service as one day we all will
May 31, 2017 at 12:28 pmOh, yes. We can all absolutely relate. Thank you for your encouraging story.
May 31, 2017 at 1:01 pmThank you.
May 31, 2017 at 1:29 pmAn awesome testimony. God has been there for me always. Through the sad times and the glad times. I just had to seek him. Then also had to shut up and let him answer my prayers.
May 31, 2017 at 5:41 pmAh,yes. To shut up indeed. And to submit and wait. Thank you for sharing
May 31, 2017 at 7:31 pmAmen, Amen. I so agree with this. God will work all things out for the good for those who love him and are the called according to his purpose. I tell myself that “nothing is for nothing”. God uses every circumstance to shape us, conform us to the image of his Son, which will be for his glory. Thanks for sharing your life. May God continue to give you strength and hope in him.
June 1, 2017 at 1:00 amIt is our faith that brings us joy through the stressings of life. Without we could not emotionally, physically survive. Thank you for your encouragement.
June 1, 2017 at 7:49 am