Challenged

Today in my quiet time, I prayed earnestly for help. Something to give me the strength I needed. I know God has a plan in all this, but sometimes my impatience kicks in. He gave me Psalms 118. I've read this before many times but I knew He wanted me to read it today.

⁵ Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
   the LORD answered me and set me free.
⁶ The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
   What can man do to me?
⁷ The LORD is on my side as my helper;
   I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.  ⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
   than to trust in man.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
   than to trust in princes.
 ¹⁰ All nations surrounded me;
   in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
¹¹ They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
   in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
¹² They surrounded me like bees;
   they went out like a fire among thorns;
   in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
¹³ I was pushed hard,^[a] so that I was falling,
   but the LORD helped me.
 ¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song;
   he has become my salvation.
¹⁵ Glad songs of salvation
   are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
 ¹⁶ the right hand of the LORD exalts,
   the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
 ¹⁷ I shall not die, but I shall live,
   and recount the deeds of the LORD.
¹⁸ The LORD has disciplined me severely,
   but he has not given me over to death.

We have been challenged. Challenged where I belonging is. Where are friends are. Where are motives lay. Where I hearts are. Personally for me, I've been challenged with acceptance. Something I've struggled with since I can remember. But I do not fear anymore, the Lord is on my side. I'm okay with not being socially accepted. I'm okay with being different. I'm okay with sticking to what I believe. I'm okay with being ignored. I don't care how many people on Facebook "like" this or what they have to say. I know my hope in the Lord is secure. This challenge, this discipline, serves a purpose. I know there is a far greater plan at work.

I prayed in my quiet time today for help. Out of my distress I called on the Lord, and He answered me and set me free.

The Little Things

Winter Blues

It seems like it has been so long since my last post, but really it was two weeks ago. Time drags on in the winter and I never have any motivation, I feel numb. It's a challenge for me. But I found encouragement last night. We meet up at Dairy Queen for youth group yesterday and we ate our Blizzards and talked. But when it got to be Bible time, we didnt just talk...we discussed; we studied. I heard their personal trials and how they applied scripture to their lives. But through this, a passage was shared, one I had read over and over but never thought deep about it. One that didn't have meaning to me until now...

²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob?
   Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
   my cause is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸ Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

                                                           -Isaiah 40:27-31 (NIV)

My cause is not disregarded by God. He has not lost track of me. Don't you know? He is everlasting, never tired or weary. Why do I put up this fight? Why do I think I am losing strength? I can't depend on myself. I can't supply for myself. Even though I go through these times, I pray God will use them for something. I know He is at work, He is still there. I am wholly Yours, Lord.