When you read, hear or see Scriptures that say like this one (on my wall) from Philippians 4:4, to rejoice in the Lord always–not just sometimes or not just when you feel swell but, always–how do you feel?  That is just never easy and one of those things that command that we lay aside our feelings and respond accordingly!  Tough, huh?

Rejoice when I feel yucky, rejoice when someone has hurt me, rejoice when my guy and I just had words with one another, rejoice when I hear of how awful my dear friend is doing with her chemo, Lord, I don’t want to do this at all!

This is also one of those phrases you don’t want to blab to someone else who is not doing well.  So, it becomes a personal thing between you and God!  If we stay connected to the vine and nurture our faith by staying ever so close to our Father, I have come to believe that it will carry us through the difficult times, you will be sustained! In other words, there is a healing that comes from being close to the Father. This is what must cause us to praise Him even in the tough stuff! Even when it is difficult I will trust in Him.

A favorite worship leader of mine reminds me with her song that He is the One who can steady my heart in the midst of all the stuff that life can bring through my days and nights.  Is it easy?  No way, and as a matter of fact, it can be very painful.

You are here...You're real...and I know I can trust You... Share on X

This is the stuff that gets me through the tough journey of life.  I don’t like it but I know that it is all a part of my Lord’s wonderful plan.  How many of you have the following verse as your life verse?

I believe in a sovereign God who really does direct my pathway along this journey called life.  I sure don’t understand when the tough things come my way or when others have to suffer so, but as I learned long ago from Bible teacher, Kay Arthur, everything that happens in our life is filtered through God's loving hand. ~ Kay Arthur. Share on X If I will trust in that knowledge and even embrace the not so pleasant stuff of life, it will be used to grow me up and draw me close and make me more like Christ!

Here is the Message paraphrase version of Jeremiah…

^10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Dear friend, where are you on your journey of life?  Are you still shaking your fist at God wondering WHY God?  It’s okay, He definitely understands your pain like no one else can!  However, if you listen to His still small voice, you will hear Him whisper to your heart, “I love you, will you trust me?”

Father, it is really hard in the midst of stuff to lean back and say, “I trust You!”  I want to, but it sure hurts and I just want to know what tomorrow is going to bring.  Will I wake up and see a brighter day or will the weight of the dreary sky be the picture of my uncertain future once again?  Lord, fill me with Your hope, help me to see the light in the midst of my dark situation.  May my tomorrow bring hope, help and healing as I willingly see things through the truth of who You are and not from my finite perspective.  Right now I confess with my mouth that I trust You with my life and all my concerns, in Jesus’ name!