When I decided to create this blog, I wanted it to serve as a message board of hope and encouragement to persons who read it. Even though the blog was designed with women in mind, I wanted to be able to share it with anyone who may encounter it.
Most of the posts I share with you are situations that I've encountered or others around me. However, being I am a Christian, I don't want to leave anyone with a one sided conception that I have all the answers and at times, do not fall short.
Since the beginning of the year, I've been in a situation of which I call "sudden death". When I look at my natural state, all I see is darkness and despair. I've sought the Lord and prayed for a way out. It seems the more I pray, the worse things become.
Satan has thrown every fiery dart at me that he can. From doubt to worry, from worry to anxiety. While all the time trying to rattle my faith with negative thoughts such as: "Where is your God, now? "You believe Him to deliver you out of this situation, but its not getting better it's getting worse."
I must admit, when I look around at my physical state, I began to wonder how God is going to work out this mess. Based on what I perceive it appears as if I'm running out of time. Therefore, I've named it the "Paul" syndrome. Paul in all of his knowledge, had to cry out to Jesus when he became afraid as he walked on water. When the storm and the waves raged up against him, he took his eyes off Christ and began to sink.
What Paul didn't understand that even in the midst of the storm and the waves, he didn't need to cry out for help, because Christ was standing right before him. If I can take but a moment and imagine in my own mind, I believe that Satan was in the midst of the storm. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that Satan has the power to create a physical storm or trouble the sea. That power belongs to God and God, alone.
But just as with us, when God is ready to bless us, Satan throws every obstacle in our way in an attempt to ward off our blessings. He creates havoc in our household, jobs, family, friends and children. He throws everything at you including the kitchen sink.
However, we are not as forunate as Paul. For, he had the personage of Jesus Christ standing before him, embodied in the flesh. So how do we stand in the midst of the storm? We find the light of Christ in the midst of the storm (adversity) by reading and having faith in His Word. There we can find the same words Jesus spoke to Paul in Matthew 14:27-31. 31Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"(New Living Translation)
So, finding the light in the midst of adversity, simply implies: Jesus is the light. It is He who guides us, when we can find no light. It is He who lives within us, and His Spirit shines brightly. So whenever we are in the midst of trials and adversity, we can close our eyes, bow our heads and depend on the light of His Holy Spirit within us to grab us by the hand and pull us through.
Jesus is the light in the midst of adversity.
What I am realizing is that we serve a "Resurrected" Christ. Who has seated us far above all principalities and power. We must know that we are in this world but not of "this world". When I left the City (which will remain nameless :-)), I chose to leave Egypt and go back to the my place of promise.
ReplyDeleteNow I didn't know exactly what path this would take, but I stepped out trusting that God would lead me there. Everyone told me that I was crazy to leave a job making over $100k (net pay) per year to absolutely no income at all. But, the Lord had told me many years ago that "He" was my inheritance and I believed him. I left not knowing or caring how I would make it. I knew that He was my provider so I left and haven't looked back. It has been almost 3 years since I left and I have not missed a meal nor have I lacked provision in any way. I think it all comes down to DO WE TRUST HIM. When we truly trust Him, we sleep like a baby knowing He has NEVER FAILED.
When I realized that much of what I had to overcome was my own perceptions of what a GOOD life truly is. When I realized that I really didn't need "things" but I needed HIM, I was set free!!!
Whenever I questioned my decision, I would asked myself 3 questions.
1. Did I have shelter? -- YES
2. Did I have food? -- YES
3. Did I have clothes to wear? -- YES
For me, everything else is in it's own way is "Vanity and vexation of spirit." Those things kept me from devoting my full time to getting to KNOW Him.
I gave away my Toyota. Whew! what a relief! Now I have been provided (at my disposal) a brand new SUV that I don't have to worry about annual registration or the monthly expenses of gas, and insurance.
I released my 1148 square foot house and now live in a 3800 + square foot home. That has been provided for me without cost!!!
As for that $100k salary that I had to endure HELL to receive.... I now have all the things that I desire given to me as tokens of love and honor sometimes from people I don't even know. There are times when I think it would be nice to have something and within minutes to an hour, there's a knock on the door and in comes the very thing I desired in my heart. Now that's the God I serve.
I made a decision to return to my promise. What is that promise? It is being "Joint Heir with Jesus Christ" in the power of His resurrection! I no longer serve the Christ on the cross but I serve a "Risen Lord" and I have been placed in "Heavenly places in Him" If I have any words of encouragement it would be this:
We must get past the cross and the grave and go on to resurrection of LIFE in Christ Jesus. When we get to that place of promise we no longer struggle with a defeated foe. Our enemy is put beneath or feet and we sit in the Heavenly council far above the stormy sea.
God Bless, I love you, and keep writing.
Errin
Bless you! Your words have encouraged my heart. When I left the City all I knew was I was leaving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I sought the Lord, and knew it was time to go.
ReplyDeleteRecently, I've experienced some hard times. So, I decided maybe I needed to look for a job. Last week I went on a final interview at a local college. Never before in my life, have I experienced a interviewer who was callous, demeaning, antongizing and down right nasty! It took everything in my body not to walk out of that interview. After leaving the interview I got in my car and broke down into tears. I believed I had done everything right, so why did this man talk to me this way.
Being that my financial state didn't look so well, I was sure the Lord was going to give me this job to tide me over, until I could begin making money from my writings to start the transitional home. Well, it didn't happen that way. So, for over a week now I've found myself burden with the thoughts of what now, Lord.
Until your email today, I never realized that God had taken me away from the burden of a "wordly" job. He called me to an assignment and I answered Him. He called me to be a voice in the wilderness. Now, realize when I left the City, I wanted to be in the service and the will of God. I wanted to own and operate my own business and published my writings. So, it has never been my intent to work a 9-5, again.
But, when we allow worry to set in, we become afraid and look to the world to finance our needs. Instead of looking to a career to finance my needs, I should have trusted more in Him. I am a joint-heir to His throne, and I am righteous because He is righteous. Therefore, I am entitled to His covenant kindess, grace and favor. Sometimes, we forget who we are and what we are in Him. I've been worried about how to pay rent this month, not realizing that He has already made a way for it to be paid.
Continue to pray for me. Everday He is building me up to get to know Him better. As always He has a realm in the bush to comfort and strengthen me in my hour of need.
I Love you, Errin.
Hester
Praise God!!! We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the words of our testimony. I Bless God that my testimony served as a comfort. You will always be in my prayers. Just keep doing what you're doing and the rest will be added.
ReplyDeleteErrin