Wednesday, October 6, 2010

In the trenches of life

Tlaquepaque Chapel, Sedona Arizona
"But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love your name my rejoice in You." Psalm 5:11

This morning wasn't a calm prayer time for me......I was restless, I was worried. I was wondering why circumstances seem so hard for people who are just trying to do the right things. Why does it seem that certain people sail through life with little difficulty? If they need something done they just pay to have someone do it, with money no object they are unscathed by the things that bog the rest of us down. They don't have to mess with details, they don't lose sleep over what is not getting done because someone else is doing it.....or not. Either way, they live above the fray unaffected.  

So this prayer is for the rest of us here in the trenches of life. The ones who look around and realize they are standing alone, with no backup in sight. The ones who get robbed themselves because they are caring for others. The ones with anxious prayers like David, who was not a stranger to adversity.

He lost sleep, he was anxious, fearful, distressed and tired. But He also knew his God. He knew that his God was big enough to handle anything. He also knew that God was a refuge where he could always find shelter.

As I was reading, but mostly worrying this morning. I read these lines.....the ones that God highlighted for me, the ones where my finger stopped moving across the page.

"In the morning O Lord you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."

I pray, but so many times I don't wait in expectation, I try to figure things out my own way. I don't wait in expectation to see what God will do, I don't even give Him the chance. I believe that is what He wanted me to see this morning. I marvel at the faith of David, a man after God's own heart. He knew how to wait the right way. 

I love how David poured out his heart to the Lord. I can always find comfort in the Psalms because I know that I can find everything there that mirrors exactly what I am feeling at any given moment!

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24
Jesus with children, Sedona Art Studio


5 comments:

  1. Lori, I understand exactly what you're saying. And yet I love that as you were worrying, you were reading His Word. And He showed you the verse:

    "In the morning O Lord you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."

    He is an awesome God and meets us right where we are. I need to wait in expectation too. Thank you for sharing this to remind me too.

    Btw, I love the photos from Sedona. The second one was kind of special to me. You see, we had purchased two of the wind sculptures from this art studio about 12 years ago. They were so beautiful and every time the wind blew my husband and I loved to see the shapes as they twirled in our backyard in Phoenix. However, since then rough times have impacted us too. Gone are the house with the wind sculptures. I'm learning that it's just stuff and we can't take it with us, right?

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    PS. Did you get any flooding near you? Wasn't that rain something else yesterday?

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  2. Debbie, yes that storm was amazing. I went out to rescue a potted plant and got soaked! A neighbor lost a tree but nobody injured....Yes, stuff is just stuff. I sold a home also right before everything crashed and downsized into a retirement village. (Even though I am not quite old enough) Everyone thought I was nuts but I got out of debt! I miss the beautiful yard, but some things you just have to leave behind to get "free." There is plenty of "stuff" in Heaven, and we won't care then! Thank you for the thoughts, always Lori

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  3. The Trenches of Life, it is amazing how life challenges can take us by surprise but glory to God it does not take Him by surprise. It's never easy when faced with pressure but one thing I know just like you my dear is that no matter what Jesus is right there with us, He sees all and knows all. He never gives us more then we can handle and He gives us the strength to stand when we really want to buckle. Thank you for sharing your post and being faithful in reading the word because it's in those storms when we need the word the more.

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  4. LORI,
    Yes, David's perseverance is amazing. To remember that he spent many years hiding and contending with Saul, without threatening his life. Which he could have done. Saul was always trying to finish him.
    Life takes a lot of patience, as you imply.
    Blessings,
    Bill

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  5. Thank you all, you inspire me with your words of encouragement! Lori

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