During this time of stress and uncertainty, God has been showing me some ways that I can tend to be dependent on myself and other people in my life rather than on Him. Is it bad to rely on those people around you for help, encouragement, and comfort? Not at all! If, however, you make those people in your life your only source of hope, you will be disappointed.
Before the accident occurred, three of my siblings were in another town with our Grandpa, I and Mama were with some other grandparents, and Daddy and my brother were working at home. I don't mind being away from my siblings, but I must admit that they are my best friends, and at the end of a week away from them I am glad to see them. When our family was thrown into a state of stress, I immediately longed for their return, for their encouragement, for them to be with me. But I had to wait a day and a half until we were able to be together. During that time of waiting I did spend time with other family, but God also showed me through their absence and the uncertainty I felt about Daddy that God is the only one who I can truly rely on for all I need.
I have been reading Psalm 78 these past few days as a part of my reading through the Psalms. The entire chapter is rather discouraging as it tells of the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel, but through these sections one point has been sticking out to me: even when the Israelites grumbled against God, He still performed glorious deeds for them! Verses 4-8 say,
"4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God."
Verse 7 says that God's purpose for doing glorious deeds and wonders is so that we may set our hope in God. If I am setting my hope in the security of being with my family and friends, I will be let down, but if I put my hope in the Lord, I will never be shaken.
"Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again." ~Psalm 78:37-39
Praise God for His compassion! It is my prayer that God will continue to draw me to Himself, that I may hope in Him and be an encouragement to those around me, that through me they may see Christ.
Here is a song that I recently discovered that has directed my gaze to Him who holds ALL things.
~paisley
I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from the sunshine
For the skies they turn to grey.
And I don't worry for the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside him
For he's what lies ahead.
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Every burden's getting lighter
Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining
There no tear will ever dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
(All Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version)
Before the accident occurred, three of my siblings were in another town with our Grandpa, I and Mama were with some other grandparents, and Daddy and my brother were working at home. I don't mind being away from my siblings, but I must admit that they are my best friends, and at the end of a week away from them I am glad to see them. When our family was thrown into a state of stress, I immediately longed for their return, for their encouragement, for them to be with me. But I had to wait a day and a half until we were able to be together. During that time of waiting I did spend time with other family, but God also showed me through their absence and the uncertainty I felt about Daddy that God is the only one who I can truly rely on for all I need.
I have been reading Psalm 78 these past few days as a part of my reading through the Psalms. The entire chapter is rather discouraging as it tells of the unfaithfulness of the people of Israel, but through these sections one point has been sticking out to me: even when the Israelites grumbled against God, He still performed glorious deeds for them! Verses 4-8 say,
"4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God."
Verse 7 says that God's purpose for doing glorious deeds and wonders is so that we may set our hope in God. If I am setting my hope in the security of being with my family and friends, I will be let down, but if I put my hope in the Lord, I will never be shaken.
"Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again." ~Psalm 78:37-39
Praise God for His compassion! It is my prayer that God will continue to draw me to Himself, that I may hope in Him and be an encouragement to those around me, that through me they may see Christ.
Here is a song that I recently discovered that has directed my gaze to Him who holds ALL things.
~paisley
I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from the sunshine
For the skies they turn to grey.
And I don't worry for the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside him
For he's what lies ahead.
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Every burden's getting lighter
Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining
There no tear will ever dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
(All Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version)
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