I'm Grabbing On....

Recently I have been tested and challenged from all sides...typically I would think that I'm under attack...

Last week while I was in New York I was alone...and the quiet allowed me time for a lot of prayer and devotion with God.  I feel as if I've done a lot of growing up over the past week...that may sound silly to some, but the prayer and the devotion presented wisdom, and I realize that the testing and the challenges upon me have been a blessing...

Last night I opened my Bible, no ribbon marking a beginning or a continuance...I just simply opened my Bible with the assumption that whatever verse I was led to would be my focus for this healing path I am walking...

My fingers led me to 1 Corinthians 10:13:

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

No longer was it that my fingers led me to this verse, but God...this was definitely a God thing!  I am reminded that Jesus never promised that he would spare me from worldly discomfort...but He did promise to stay with me, He will never leave me.  And as the verse says, He will never tempt me beyond what I can bear...and furthermore, He will grant me the strength to endure it. 

Suddenly I could see...it was as if a light flipped on....I understood.

And the sun rises...and I begin my day...and mid morning I am challenged, once again.  And I think to myself, "Where is God now?  Where is the strength that He promised?  I can't endure this..."

And I hear a voice..."You have to take ahold of the strength...you have to grab my hand....I will help you endure this challenge...."

Wow!  Of course I knew that God would provide...He would walk me through...but I wasn't grabbing his hand, I wasn't taking ahold...

But here is the real gift....

This evening I returned home from a church meeting and I layed on my bed and began to cry.  I felt so overwhelmed...so very weak....confused...beaten....

And I grabbed my Bible and I allowed my fingers once again to surprise me with a verse....

And this is what God presented to me tonight,

John 1:2-4

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I grabbed His hand....and I'm holding tight...

I now understand that God wants me to use this challenge to develop and strengthen my faith!

And so, I'm trusting in God....I'm fully trusting in God. 

...And I feel stronger already!