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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wednesday In The Word: Do not despair!

Today, I want to share with you from my heart about what God has shown me through some deep moments of sorrow. I hesitate to do it, because I would prefer to just talk about happy times and experiences, but life in the natural isn't all happy and we need the strength and support that God alone has to offer us. Also, times of sorrow are often the moments that God shows us His strength and enables that strength to then become part of our own character.

I have learned in the past few years that there is a difference between sadness and sorrow. Sadness is a surface wound and sorrow is like a deep cut that takes a long time to heal. My experience in recent days has been sorrow.

There have been days in the past three years that I would be startled by my own sighs of sorrow. I remember one day standing in my kitchen, and honestly, I dont know how long I was standing there, but my trance was broken when I heard my own sighs. I then knew what the Bible is talking about when it speaks of groanings too deep to utter. In the midst of this, the only thing I could do was place my life up against Jesus and let Him carry me. And carry me He has, every step of the way.

This one great scripture has become like my theme over the past three years.

"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13

Despair is deep sorrow. I have walked with God long enough to have seen, before our son went to heaven, that God had brought me through many other seasons of life. When Nathan died, I had to decide to remember all the ways that God had shown up in my life in days already passed. The Bible tells us to remember those days because they provide pictures and visible demonstration of His power.

You may be in a season of despair. Your job may be over, you lost a child of your own, you are having financial difficulty or you can fill in the blank. This is what I want to shout from the rooftop this week.

DO NOT DESPAIR.

REMEMBER WHO GOD IS.

THINK ABOUT WAYS HE HAS ALREADY BROUGHT YOU TO THIS POINT.

LEAN ON HIM FOR HE CARES FOR YOU.

We are walking in the land of the living together and I am praying for you that your deep sorrow be turned to joy.

Until we meet on the roof next week.

Blessings,
Glenda

11 comments:

Kristi Smalley said...

Glenda, thank you for sharing. This was a great word and one that really hit home with me. You really encouraged me today.

Unknown said...

Amen and amen. How timely to refresh our minds with this verse. For some reason, it seems like this is a time of sorrow for so many people I know and love. Thank for sharing your own sorrow and shouting from the roof that God is GOOD and NOT just when things are going great! ILY!

Our Funny Farm said...

I learned of this blog through Angela's blog and I can't tell you how much I needed to here this today. I try to find the good and fun in every situation but I am just struggling today with our current situation so I appreciate your honesty and authenticity in your post.
We have seen so many countless times how good and strong God has been during the best and worst of circumstances but right now as my husband is out of work and we are looking at losing it all, I am struggling to stand firm on what I know and have experienced with God's power and strength. Thank you for this word from God. I know this is a lesson that I need to remember as an encouragement as we face the days ahead.

Glenda said...

Kristen,
How precious you are to share your life and heart . I don't know everything that you are going through because we have never met. However, I am going to be praying for you. I love you.

Unknown said...

Kristen, Thank you for putting yourself "out there" and sharing! I will be praying for you and your husband. God bless you and keep us posted!

Donna said...

That was great, Glenda!

Aundrea-aka Zerbert Baby said...

Hi Kristen, Thank you for sharing what you are going through with your family right now. I will be praying for your family.

Our Funny Farm said...

To all of you who have let me know you are praying for us, THANK YOU SO MUCH! The Lord really used this blog to encourage me today and it is so neat to me how God can use a blog to bring people together who have never met and allow us to share and pray for one another. I just wanted to share with you the string of events that occurred after reading your blog. I got Glenda's encouraging comment and not long after that my husband came in with the mail that included an encouraging book with money in it from an anonymous source and an encouraging card with money in it. I have more of the details on my blog but I was just blown away with how amazing God is to have this delivered right when we needed it. I actually have a link to your blog on my post today because I shared how God used this to encourage me today.
In the midst of this stress, our family has a lot of fun together so I'm posting about all we are learning during this experience as well as the fun times too. I'm trying to keep everyone updated on all God is doing on my blog. Thanks again for your prayers!

Glenda said...

Praise God for the encouragement He gave you today.

Glenda said...

Kristen,
I tried to leave a comment on your blog but for some reason when I click on comment nothing happens so I hope you read this. I prayed for you today. Your family is precious. Your heart for the Lord is precious.
Love, Glenda

Our Funny Farm said...

Glenda,
Thanks for your kindness! I appreciate the heads-up on the comments not working on my blog because I didn't realize that. I think I got the problem straightened out now. I'll stop hogging the comments now. :) Have a good weekend!