Just Some Morning Thoughts

Lately God has taken me to some several new blogs. All are wives and moms. All are in financial distress. All are pouring out their heart to God to help them make their next mortgage payment, to pay their light bill, to put food on the table and gas in the car.

My heart hurts for them. We are coming out of the darkest time financially. While we aren't completely out of the woods and things are still very tight, I praise God for providing over the last 18 months. I thank Him for using specific people to encourage us in this dark hour and pray that one day (hopefully soon!) we will be able show them just how thankful we are for their sacrifice.

Anyway...these blogging sisters are on my mind big time. I went through my journals from about this time last year and found some scripture that was encouraging to me. I hope that if you are in this sort of situation, you will find some comfort in knowing that you aren't alone.

Isaiah 32 read the whole thing, but especially verse 15-20.
"Till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be..."

Going through financial turmoil sure can feel like walking around with the scarlet letters "FF" (financial failure) on your chest. For us, it was a job loss that triggered it. That on top of several years of medical debt that we were still paying on. (We made a poor choice and put a LOT of it on credit cards. BAD CHOICE. CREDIT CARD DEBT IS NEVER A GOOD OPTION. In my opinion and that doesn't count for much!) BUT, God provided and that medical debt is gone. (we have a little, but not like it was!)

As I read these ladies blog posts, I "hear" so many of the feelings I had last summer. One hurt I can so relate to was a comment made by a blogger who had been told by a family member that "It's hard to know when to help and when to let someone struggle so they learn a lesson." That comment hit very close to home as we heard it to. You know, I think when people are in financial turmoil because they have shopped themselves into it, or bought a house that was WAY out of their budget, or purchased new cars/boats and then they can't afford food, clothing, etc...that is one thing. They absolutely need to work their way out of that, they may need some tough love. BUT,

When someone is struggling because of circumstances they didn't choose..that is totally different. They don't need to be told how to manage money, they don't need a lecture, they need love, encouragement and friendship and sometimes...grocery money!

My heart hurt so much for this one particular blogger. I wish I could stock her pantry, fill up her car and then take her shopping for a new outfit. But I can't. We aren't at that point yet...but I can pray.

You know we are hearing everywhere just how bad everything is. And it is bad...but our God is still in control. He still owns the cattle on a thousand hills. His word still says that He will provide our needs, maybe not our wants, but our needs! He tells us that He will destroy the years the locust stole from us.

I can honestly say to you that this 18 months or so have been just as hard as the years that Chad was physically at the point of death. I am not joking around here. I have been at lows that I thought I would never visit again.

But God has been faithful to us. And He Will be faithful to you. He is not a respecter of persons and He is just crazy about you.

My prayer today is that if you are struggling financially, that you would experience some heavenly peace today. It may be a while before things seem stable and okay, but you have a Saviour who wants to show you some pretty awesome things during this time. You are not alone.

Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Psalm 34:9-10 Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Be still and listen. I'm asking him to sing a little louder over you today and to make you very aware of his presence.