Friday 28 August 2015

What the!?

This morning as I was going through my morning routine, well more like stumbling though it as I had yet to have coffee, when out of no where (well likely not no where, more likely it came from the deep recesses of my heart, or God, or both, anyway where it came from isn't whats important but what came…) “I need to journal.” And since it had been over 2 months since I have even looked at my journal (it use to be the best part of my morning, well that and coffee, praise the good Lord in Heaven for coffee!) I thought back “yeah OK, I think i can fit in some journaling.” That is a long explanation, I don’t know about you, but for me sometimes it just feels good to ramble …

OK focus Maria!

First line (after the date and Dear Father God,) …

I hurt. I’m sad. Please send help.

That’s dramatic! (if you know me at all you’ll know I am prone to the dramatic.)

So I made a list of all the beautiful people in my life, who fill my life with meaning and joy, I made a list of the things I am passionate about… 

And that got me thinking…

Do you ever feel discouraged and disappointed, because you look around at your life and you think “what the!!!?? This isn't how things were suppose to turn out!”?

Sure you have, we all have (I bet you even Beyonce at one point or another has thought to her self “OK this isn’t going the way I had hoped.”).

Although we all experience times of disappointment, some of more then others due to life circumstances and personality (and i’m sure other things that I don’t even know about).

As I was bewailing my disappointment two thoughts came to mind…

“Who made you the boss?”

And “How do you know how things were suppose to turn out?”

Aaahh, good point.

This might be the point were you check out (if you didn’t earlier as I rambled…) but just wait encouragement is coming, I promise, just stick with me for a few more moments…

Step One (I need clear instructions, so I like steps, they simplify things for me): 

"… pour out your heart before God, for God cares …" (paraphrased Psalm 62:8)

Step Two: Take a step back, shut up, listen and get some perspective…

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?..." (Job 38: 4-7, but if you have time read 38-41)

OK that’s sobering. Yet the next passages that came to mind reminded me that …

Step Three: Be reminded that God is for us!

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11)

I know that this verse is not to us, but I believe it is for us, and it is theme of Scripture, again…

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28)

So there you have it folks! 

Aaahh what do we have exactly?

Well... a three step program to get over yourself…

I think. 

Hey I found it fairly helpful, maybe give it a try, and let the Lord lead you, I’m sure God has other ways that will encourage you, you just need to take some time to pay attention…