The Lord has made me very aware recently of how many people around me are hurting. We probably talk to more people who are hiding hurt behind their smile, than we could ever realize. Thoughts about this have been going through my mind, and a blog article has been forming. However my 2nd oldest daughter, Ruth, posted this on Facebook today, and I thought it was worth re-posting. It addresses this topic a little, and was an encouragement to me. I hope it will be an encouragement to you as well!
I was just reading through some old journal entries I had written during the year that I was laid off from my job. That was a dark and painful year for me, on many different levels and for many different reasons. God was allowing me to go through the fire of personal trials, some big, some small, but all so painful, so that He could refine me. I am thankful for that year. It was life-changing. I have never been the same since, and hope to never be the same again.
The song “Give me Jesus” became – and still is – one of my all-time favorites. You can have all this world….but give me Jesus. I felt like everything was being stripped away from me. My job, my security, some relationships…but in the end, even in the darkness, I knew it was going to be okay, because I had Jesus, and nobody could take that away from me.
I learned many important things during that year, a few of which are as follows:
1. Even when it feels as if our entire life is being turned upside down, with everything and everybody around us changing….God never changes.
2. Sometimes we have to just keep going through the motions of the christian life, and I don’t think it’s hypocritical to do so. I think that’s faith, and it’s what makes a Christian a “good Christian,” whatever that really means. 🙂 Sometimes we just keep plodding along, doing what’s right even when we feel nothing, and even when we mess up, we get back up and keep moving. Sometimes a little slower than other times, but that’s okay, you know?
3. Most importantly of all, perhaps, I came to know God in a closer, more intimate way than I have ever known Him before, and THAT is what was most life-changing. I learned that God is truly good, all the time. Through the good and the bad, GOD IS GOOD.
I am so thankful for His love, mercy and grace in my life.
