Psalm 57:1-3 "Be merciful to me, O God! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamaties have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth." (italicized by me)
Under the shadow of Christ's wings is the safest place I can be. He is my refuge and my strength, even in the midst of calamaty.
I Peter 4:12-13 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be over-joyed when His glory is revealed."
In a fallen world, we should not be surprised when bad things happen. But God can use every situation for HIS glory. That is the only way I can rejoice in the midst of hardship. I ask each day that God will use me and this situation to glorify Him!
Lamentations 3:22-24, 32-33 "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul; 'Therefore I hope in Him.' Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of me."
There are so many encourgaging things in this passage! First, God does not afflict willingly-- I do not believe God's desire was for me to be sick; I do believe that He will bring about good through it and give me the strength to endure it. Then, the Lord's mercies are new every morning-- I walk with God day-by-day and rejoice in His faithfulness each moment. God is compassionate-- He cares for me and what I am going through; I lean on Him.
Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Every tongue which rises against you in judgement, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. Their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord"
My Dad gave my family this verse as a family passage to get us through the hard days. When we feel attacked, we only have to remember that there is no weapon on earth that can prosper against us, for we are the chosen ones of Christ. Our heritage is in HIM, what can man or disease do to us?
I want to thank each one of you who has been lifting me up in prayer. I know that God hears the prayers of His people! Thank you for your notes of encouragement, cards, phone calls, and visits; they mean so much to me! If you have written me and I haven't responded yet, I apologize-- I have been reading your messages!
I will close with a quote from my friend John that sums up my feelings right now:
"I do not wish to be amongst the wears of this life... but until my task is finished I remain amongst this broken world pursuing a calling of the Most High."
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