The weekend dragged as I faced too many days, unemployed. My knees scraped raw as I knelt beside the bed, crying out to God for help. The new job hadn't surfaced; I felt rejected and alone.
Yet the definition of hope includes believing, especially when we don't see the answer. The "evidence of things not seen" concludes the writer of Hebrews as he describes faith. Hope and faith are sisters, both requiring the foundation of trust.
On Sunday, I found another buoy to hang on to, recorded in the Psalms: "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."
My hope is not found in the job nor in the security it brings. My hope is in the very presence of my Husband and Maker - Jesus Christ.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Be Still
How can we be still when we're feeling desperate ?
This week, God has told me to "Let it be and be still..." - the famous verse found in Psalm 46:10.
I've been going to job fairs, searching job boards, applying online, calling, etc. So far, I've had lots of interview experiences and several more ball point pens - given away at the job fairs.
But no job.
It's actually been a good week, focusing on who God is, praying, searching the Bible for answers. My stress levels have gone down, because I'm not doing the work. I'm being still and letting God do the work. Still no job, but more peace.
The answer is in the rest of Psalm 46:10 "Let it be, be still - and know that I am God."
That's the key - knowing that He is God, that He is sovereign, that He knows what's supposed to happen and when.
Being still and letting God be God is the key to total peace and the answer for our prayers.
This week, God has told me to "Let it be and be still..." - the famous verse found in Psalm 46:10.
I've been going to job fairs, searching job boards, applying online, calling, etc. So far, I've had lots of interview experiences and several more ball point pens - given away at the job fairs.
But no job.
It's actually been a good week, focusing on who God is, praying, searching the Bible for answers. My stress levels have gone down, because I'm not doing the work. I'm being still and letting God do the work. Still no job, but more peace.
The answer is in the rest of Psalm 46:10 "Let it be, be still - and know that I am God."
That's the key - knowing that He is God, that He is sovereign, that He knows what's supposed to happen and when.
Being still and letting God be God is the key to total peace and the answer for our prayers.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Watching the Sparrows
Every morning, I grab my over-sized coat and venture out to the deck to feed the birds. Sometimes I see the scarlet cardinals, who always come in pairs. Most days, the obnoxious bluejays appear. During the winter months, the snow birds settle in for a snack.
But the species that comes every day is the sparrow. She is not the flashiest bird, but she is definitely the most intense species. Every morning, she waits on the deck and flutters a few feet away when I come out the door. As soon as the birdseed is spread on the deck and in the feeder, she is back. She works diligently and doesn't leave until every last seed is consumed.
I like the sparrows, because they remind me of the care and protection of God. In Psalm 84, we are reminded that God cares about the sparrow and provides a nest for her to shelter her young.
During these days of job searches, waiting for phone calls and dressing for successful interviews - I stay focused on hope because of one truth. God cares about this sparrow and her chick. He loves me, and he loves my son. He will show us where to find enough seed for another week and when it's the right time - he'll provide the perfect job.
But the species that comes every day is the sparrow. She is not the flashiest bird, but she is definitely the most intense species. Every morning, she waits on the deck and flutters a few feet away when I come out the door. As soon as the birdseed is spread on the deck and in the feeder, she is back. She works diligently and doesn't leave until every last seed is consumed.
I like the sparrows, because they remind me of the care and protection of God. In Psalm 84, we are reminded that God cares about the sparrow and provides a nest for her to shelter her young.
During these days of job searches, waiting for phone calls and dressing for successful interviews - I stay focused on hope because of one truth. God cares about this sparrow and her chick. He loves me, and he loves my son. He will show us where to find enough seed for another week and when it's the right time - he'll provide the perfect job.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Pre-Existing
My son is searching for health insurance. He's trying one of the high risk pools, hoping they will accept him without a huge premium or high deductible. He's only 24 years old, but has a pre-existing condition. Although he's cancer free now, he had a malignant brain tumor removed two years ago. He's been through chemo and radiation and has a scar on the side of his beautiful head that breaks my heart every time I look at it.
He's working part-time, going to school part-time and moving toward his future plans. But the current system locks him out of health insurance, because of this pre-existing monster.
It makes me angry at the injustice and worried for the possible scenarios. But God is sovereign. He knows how to help us.
Sometimes we suffer from pre-existing strongholds. They may have been placed on us by generational sins or by our own follies. But they have a strong hold on us and only the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit can remove them. If we hang on to the sovereignty of God and keep our hope in him alive, he will give us the assurance we need to keep going.
Nothing pre-exists God - and that's the best insurance we can ever have.
He's working part-time, going to school part-time and moving toward his future plans. But the current system locks him out of health insurance, because of this pre-existing monster.
It makes me angry at the injustice and worried for the possible scenarios. But God is sovereign. He knows how to help us.
Sometimes we suffer from pre-existing strongholds. They may have been placed on us by generational sins or by our own follies. But they have a strong hold on us and only the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit can remove them. If we hang on to the sovereignty of God and keep our hope in him alive, he will give us the assurance we need to keep going.
Nothing pre-exists God - and that's the best insurance we can ever have.
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