Just One of Those Days

Today is just one of those days, a day to trust, where I hope answers come. You know, where you want some direction for the path to take for just that day. Each day is new; we don’t wish schemes to throw us off, as that would be a waste. I understand I must wait for the whispers of hope to speak to my heart.

Sure, I would like to know how things turn out ahead of time, but I am about to surrender and wait like many. I suggest we all try to do the same. Maybe if we encourage one another in the chaos, we can better tune into the Spirit.

Sadly, in my human nature, I, too, am attracted to the constant “SNAP” of greed in a world of wants. I have often succumbed to my desires for things or even my control over how I want life to be. I forget to take an inventory of what things are genuinely my wants or desires and what God’s willingness’s for me. I have felt the pangs of guilt as I appreciate the over-indulgences of life. Then quick awareness creeps in as a constant reminder that I cannot hide from the pains of the world around me. Denial is a lovely thing while futile at the same time.

Our desire for things and actual needs are different. Life breaks places and people are all around us. The broken places are where we find the lost, the hurting, the weak, and the very place that God wants us to disciple. Everybody hurts; we need to stop the bleeding of hurt. Are we closing our eyes to it? If we trust in what the Spirit tells us, we will move; please open the eyes of our heart’s Lord.

We coexist within the ebb and flow of life. Tides shifting high and low. The waves range as we remain in God’s grace through our storms. Fog impedes judgment, trust falters, and, noticing as it dissipates, forgetting God is the only one who makes a way where there is no other.

Observance of faith is crucial in this timing. Hey Lord, it’s us; help open our eyes to the basic necessity of bringing others into the fold, welcoming them with love, and assuring them they are not alone. If I pay attention, I can see countless ways God wants to use time. The tough times in our life, even the times of terrible personal crisis. God wants us to be external in the adherence to His grace. He wants us to trust Him in all things, keeping our focus on Him. Sometimes, this is easier said than done when living in the flesh.

God provides calm in the storms and speaks through His Holy Spirit. He may want you to stop at a challenging moment and give care to those around you. Often we will find those who are not even aware of His existence. They’re losing their grip, and in this desperate state, they don’t care. God doesn’t allow the visions of the needs of others to leave just by the closing of our eyes. When we listen to these cries of the Holy Spirit, God directs our life's purpose.

By serving others, there’s excellent solace in moments of pain. He may guide us to someone lost, someone hurting much more than ourselves. He may have wanted us to listen, be quiet, and be funny in times of sadness. To heal the wounds of a spirit broken, or to sit and pray with someone so they can open themselves to hearing God speak to them. Their joy can allow the subtle healing of our brokenness.

There are life seasons out of our control. These we have more incredible difficulty wrapping our heads around. The ones we do our best to grab some lifeline, allowing us to hang on. A timeline we create in our minds when we say, “I can do it until then, but after that, I give up.” The “I can’t take one more thing in a moment.” In Him, we can carry our cross- far longer than we ever thought possible. What a fantastic feeling to know God is with us; we are not alone.

Funny, I think I’m so faithful and prayerful, yet in my most challenging moments, I too can place limits on God. I can tell others not to do this. I may say, “Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope.”

Now I must again admit my human nature. When the things in my path are more complicated, it is tough not to pay attention to the “SNAP” they are causing. I have difficulty noticing the tiny fragment of little things that have developed into a large plank right in the center of my eye. I try hard to remain faithful and recognize my lack of attention to God’s word. Yet we are under attack when we’re not our best selves.

In these moments, we attack anything we can to gain a balance. The attack is useless and hurtful, for we often seek those closest to us to unload our pain, as do they? People do this as we trust they will allow it, as does our Father in heaven, and through His love, we will then process our pain, and He will again provide the answers. It’s important to remember in these times to love each other as Christ loves us and without malice. We must also forgive our lack of poise in our reactionary humanness. Our brokenness is why we welcome the day when we will be perfect and glorified in Him. Then and only then will we get it right! Until then, we must strive to be more like Him, help one another in our weaknesses, and build up one another on our strengths for Him.

I find it funny how we assume we will not stumble on our righteousness. During these times, we may see ourselves crossing the boundaries of forgiveness, patience, humility, and joy, jumping right into crazy, acting like a fool, and fearing hopelessness. In these times, I am limiting God. Why do I waste my time here in this human reaction when I know the only way of hope is in Him?

I know this, and I do this. I have surrendered in faith many times and followed Christ with great joy, but even the most faithful of servants will shake, and I am far from the most loyal. If I were, I would not stumble and would not question the desires of God’s will. But pray for the wants of my Father in Heaven. I will trust with confidence in Him, strengthened by His promises. Pray in silence for a better understanding and welcome this time with Him. In this quiet submission, I would then receive the answers for another day. The answers come when I turn away from my humanness and give it to God.

Have you ever had a day when you think I should do something different? A reflective day you have waited on with a preset agenda. Then the proverbial rug rips out from under you! Sometimes God makes a magic carpet out of our mats.

Here is one story in my life on God’s carpet ride:

God took me on a magic carpet ride to go hiking one day with my sweet daughter and a dear friend. We had gone to a nearby trail where they were to climb a mountain together. I was eager to go along, even though I planned to wait at the bottom for the girls.

It was not the most massive mountain in its entirety; it was about 1.9 miles. I could see a fire in my sweet girl’s eyes saying, “Please try to go with us, Mommy.” I considered waiting it out on a park bench, but I believe God was prompting me to go along. I had not attempted to do such a feat in many years, and in all actuality, I was crazy for doing it that day as I have a debilitating nerve-muscle disease. Because of this, exasperating muscles are not the best idea. It challenges my physical health. However, my spiritual health is in reasonable shape, and so I thought, not today; I throw caution to the wind and trust in God. This day was so gorgeous. The spring air summoned my spirit to feel the sun's warmth, giving me fiery confidence.

I could see my daughter as she bubbled with excitement every few minutes that passed. We were doing this climb together. I could not help but think of all the times I have told her, “Through God, all things are possible.” I witnessed the joy as she realized we would go the entire way together. Our friend was ahead of us, encouraging our goal. We laughed, giggled, and found extra energy as a little snake crossed our path, making us jump almost out of our skin — a poignant reminder of the enemy attempting to trip us up. The closer we came to the trail's end, the more thankful I became for the Grace of God Gives in a storm.

Then the pearl came, the one I would have missed had my plans not changed. My girl was seventeen on that day and ready to take flight on her adventure and path directed by God, Looked at me and said, “This is the first time we ever completed a hike together, as you have been sick since I was eight years old.” She reached for my hand as she helped me, pushing me up and over a tree root and then assisting me down the steep terrain. At this moment, God gave me His pure love as He allowed me to see this changing of roles.

So many years before she placed her tiny hand in mine, I helped her along the way. Today, as I knew she was about to head out on her own, she put her hand in mine and said, “I will help you. You will be so proud of yourself, and you can do it!”

Thank you, God, for that beautiful day. I was never so happy to see a parking lot near the distance, but that moment on that little mountain was worth every ounce of pain that may have followed. Grateful, my plans changed; if they had not, this memory would never have happened without God’s hand outstretched. All we need to do is place ours in Our Father’s and walk along.

I am in awe of the life lessons orchestrated by our Father in heaven. Every day is a time to be used to being better than the day before. We will all mess up; no worries, it's okay; keep looking to Him, and look back every once in a while so you can see how far you have come. Thank Him for the tough days, for the beautiful days, for the days you goofed up, for the awful days, and for allowing every breath to serve Him one more day before He calls us home.

Today was one of those days when earthly answers came my way ~ Silly me, His plans are always better, in Christ, my Lord for whom all HOPE is.

Psalms 62:5-8

For God alone, O, my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7