As I wrote about way back in January, my word for 2014 is trust.
It's amazing when I consider the many situations in which I've found myself needing to trust God this year. There have been "big" ones, like my husband's back surgery and our 8th grader returning to school this week. (I've been praying throughout the day and trusting God to bless her. I remind myself that He loves her even more than I do. While I would wish a rosy path for her, I know that we usually learn more when we encounter struggles. I don't want her to be weak in her faith, but to grow.)
There have been plenty of those small, daily challenges in which I'm trying to learn to trust God also. He is faithful to give me opportunities to develop that trust! Studying God's Word and planting His promises in my heart and mind are the best ways I'm finding to continue to grow in this area.
The words of this song remind me that it's often through trials that we truly learn to trust our Lord.
I’ve had many tears and sorrows,
I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
there’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know that He could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
~Andrae Crouch
May the rest of 2014 find us continuing to trust God through the "ups and downs" of life!
This is something I already knew via head knowledge, that we grow more in our faith through trials. But now I know it from experience. This post really spoke to me this morning.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, how does your daughter like being back at school? How does your younger one feel about being "left" at home?
And I remember reading a post somewhere about a woman celebrating her miscarried baby's birthday, and I wonder if it was one of your Saturday Salutes. Does that sound familiar?
My older daughter said last night that she thinks the first couple of days have gone "pretty well." She did complain a bit yesterday about the lack of free time; between school, piano practice, homework, and a few household chores, she said there's no time left for "fun." That's true - and one of the consequences of a traditional school day. As the weeks go by, we'll see how important an issue that is for her.
DeleteMy younger one seems to be fine with continuing homeschooling - she definitely appreciates being able to finish her school day earlier! Our homeschool coop classes start the first week in September, so I think it will be exciting for her to get back into that routine as well.
Sorry - that post about celebrating a miscarried baby's birthday doesn't sound familiar - but what a sweet idea!!
I'm glad that both of your daughters seem happy with what their doing. If I ever figure out where I saw that post, I'll let you know. Do you do anything to remember your miscarriage?
ReplyDeleteNothing specific, but I always remember the time of year because I was in the doctor's office waiting to have my ultrasound to confirm that I didn't need a D&C on the morning of September 11, 2001. My husband and I learned about the first World Trade Center tower being struck from our ultrasound tech. Will obviously never forget that day!!
DeleteTrust/faith is a big one... and yes, trials (difficult as they might be) are one way the Lord helps us grow in our trust... We've been learning that we have to trust Him more and more even through good things too, though, and it's important to remember that because it's too easy to be a bad weather believer otherwise! It reminds me of what the Apostle Paul says about contentment in Philippians 4 - whether we are in want or whether we abound, we still need to be content... And that can also apply to other parts of our walk with the Lord - whether we are in need or whether we are rejoicing, we *must* trust God! :) Thank you for the reminder - it's so important to trust!
ReplyDeleteAmen!!!
ReplyDelete