Storms and Sun


Ever have one of those days, where the verse that pops up on your screen FITS just perfectly?
Have you ever had it happen TWO days in a row?!
Well, that is just what happened to me today and yesterday.

We are going through some changes here in our home, with our physical things as well as our personal things. Some things are changing with family and friends as well. There are even some changes in the air with our work and finances. As I was having tea with Jesus, my hearts prayer kept leaping back to our “issues” and what is my part in them and what should I be doing. Well, as this happened yesterday, Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) popped up on my BibleGateway page on my computer.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
As I read this, the fear, worry, anxiety that I was feeling – well, didn’t all go away, but it DID go way down in my thoughts and the pressure I was feeling. Then the best thing ever happened – I started to pray. But differently than before! Praising God and thanking Him for these verses, because they were like a fresh splash of water all over me! I gave me a different way to pray for the situations and people in our life that my “worry” was being affected by.

Then, today, I wake up on the day that I am to give a speech at our Toastmasters meeting, and I’ve been a little worried over where this is leading in our future. There has been some fear going on inside me over the possible success AND failure of my dreams. Fears of letting others down and fears of the unknown. Then THIS verse pops up! (God sure is good!!)

Joshua 1:9 NLT
“This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Well if that isn’t a direct message from God, I don’t know what is!! The thing is, this happens ALL the time to me! God speaks to me so often, and shows me things like this a LOT – and what do I do?? I forget! Yup, I go right on with my day, get focused on me and ‘my stuff’ and forget that He’s not only right here with me in and through it all, but He has plans that He is working out that I can’t even imagine! (I wonder how often He shakes His head at us poor pitiful humans?!?! LOL)

I mean, really now! This totally made the “parent” in me come out, just as I realized that He looks at me like I look at our kids and grandkids, and yes, while shaking my head – saying in my head and heart, “Don’t you understand, this is what’s best for you.” Or on other occasions, “I understand that you don’t get it. You don’t see down the road that I have been on already, ahead of you.” And then today, “Oh Sweetie, you are not alone, I’m right here with you. I cannot make it all go away, but I can be beside you as we walk through it together.”

As I was thinking that and how I’ve said these things to our kids, it hit me – Jesus is saying that to ME! Right now! Oh boy – the excitement at KNOWING He has it all under control, and that He is walking right here with us through all of this – we just have to keep moving forward. We need to stop looking backwards, the things in the past will not and can not be changed. They are done. Gone. Already happened. It is TODAY that matters. Today is what starts the motions of tomorrow. Today, is all we get. Truly, there may not be a tomorrow – and if I knew today was my “last day” here on earth, I sure as heck would not be looking at my past!

Today might be a hard day for you. Today might feel like there is a big cloud hanging over you and following you like Eeyore in Winnie The Pooh. But KNOW this: you are NOT alone!! Even though the storm clouds may stay overhead and seem to last a LONG time… the sun WILL shine again. You know this, because you have lived through storms like this before. You may not see the sun breaking through the clouds, but you can see the “light” that it is giving from the other side. The sun and The Son are both there! Not going away, not running from you, but with you EVERY step! I’m praying for you. Anything that may be a challenge for you, or hard things you might be going through – KNOW that you are loved and cared for BIG time! You are being covered in prayer right this minute. Not only by me, but by Jesus Himself with the Spirit <3 Be well, be safe, and BE blessed!


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