journey onWord with us

Well, I am on the schedule to write Monday’s article for Journey onWord.  I have known this for many weeks and yet I don’t know where to start.  We have had, quite possibly, the most unusual and stressful four weeks ever.  I am physically tired and emotionally dry.  As Mike and I talked through this, we remembered a similar situation that I wrote about some years back.  In reading it again, I am reminded once again, Who is in charge of this crazy world we live in.  I hope you find comfort in this flashback article…

My husband asked me to write this blog post three weeks ago.  For three weeks I have been fretting, thinking, and searching for enlightenment so that my attempt at this blog entry would at least be half of the encouragement which Mike and Mark’s are to read.  I am here to tell you…”I got nothin’!”  It’s been a tough three weeks.  I am tired, I am not sleeping well, and my diet, well we are not even going to go there!  So in an act of desperation I called my husband and basically said, “I got nothin’.”  In his wisdom he simply said, “Then write about the nothin’.”

So here goes … an 18-month old who needed a liver transplant, a friend of a friend who heard those dreaded words, “there’s nothing else we can do,” an upset client,  a huge disappointment for a family member … Surely you can relate to that feeling of being on empty which I am currently experiencing.  I am reading Scripture and I am praying (more than normal), yet I am uninspired, fatigued, and defeated.  So where do I go to get better?  The doctor?  The psychiatrist (watch it!)?  I know what I know, and I know to go back to the Word.  I go to one of my all time favorite passages:

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

There is so much here, but allow me to focus on two things.  Look at the end of verse 5 … The Lord is near.  I am pretty sure I have forgotten that fact over the last three weeks.  He is near, always.  And then look at verses 8 through 9 … think on the good things.  The 18-month old child who received a liver transplant and is doing remarkably well.  The man with “no hope” here on earth, but the promise of being with Christ, soon.  A mended relationship with that client.  And a family member who is now more determined than ever!  Excellent, praiseworthy things!  And then the kicker in verse 9 … put it into practice.  Practice a change in my thinking, my outlook, (my diet) … and I will find peace in my daily walk.

A familiar passage … a simple application … for every one of us.

I guess I did have somethin’ after all!