We can all admit that there has been a time in our lives when we have worried about the future. Or maybe you have never worried about tomorrow, or what the future holds... But, I have. I will admit to the fact that I have worried about the future many times. I might even worry about it today. It's a part of human nature, we worry. Some people worry more than others. I myself have an especially anxious heart. I am working on being less anxious, and not worrying about the future. There are many reasons we should not worry. The most important one is, because the Lord tells us not to worry.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles." Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)
"And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:27 (NASB)
Along with verses there is a quote I love,
"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength."
Another reason is, because The Lord knows and has planned our future. He knows our next move before we make it, our next breath before we take it, our next thought before we think it! Isn't that just an amazing, comforting thing to dwell on? He has planned our future according to His perfect will for our lives.
Through my teenage years I went through many times of heartache, uncertainty, hardships, and trials, but through all of those I had a Rock who is higher than I. At the time of those trials and heartaches I became very overwhelmed, anxious, and I worried for my future. I had someone a lot of teenage girls in this world don't have. I had The Lord. I had the assurance that He would hold my hand, dry my tears, and lead me safely through what seemed like crashing waves. After a while He calmed the storm in my heart that was slowly tearing me down. He took me under the shadow of His wings and caused me to see His glorious face. I was drawn so close to Him as I clung to Him, crying out to Him with my shaken heart and fearful voice. He opened my eyes and caused me to see that His plan is perfect, and that worrying changed nothing, being angry only made me miserable, and I could not find true comfort anywhere except for in Him.
After my brother's death I memorized this verse:
"And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
At the time I could not see any good in this tragedy. All I could see was broken hearts, sorrowing souls, and unanswered questions. Now that I look back in this I see how close it has brought our family, and how it had caused me to cling to The Lord. I have also learned that The Lord allows trials to come into our lives to draw us closer to Himself.
Through this battle we are currently in the midst of many people probably look at our family and wonder how we are still holding on. They probably wonder how we function, how we can look forward to the future with such radiant hope! I have a simple answer, and that is...
The Lord is on our side! He knows the future, He hears us when we cry out to Him! He has planned every moment of our lives, and we have no need to worry. Worrying will not add a single moment to our lives, so we just live. We live for The Lord, and we live day-to-day, in every moment. Life is beautiful, and it is a gift so we need to live in each moment, and trust The Lord with our whole heart.
No, I am not saying that I don't worry, trust me... I do. But, I can hand my worries over to The Lord, and trust that He has my entire future planned out.
So, stop worrying and trust. It's hard to do, but the Lord never breaks His promises, and He wants us to trust Him with our whole heart, and know that His plan is perfect. He doesn't want us to worry, He wants us to trust.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:1-78 (NASB)
In Christian love,
Jane
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Overwhelmed?
"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me." Psalm 142:3
I came across this verse in my devotional reading recently. The verse above really stood out to me for a few reasons...
When we are overwhelmed with the path ahead of us the Lord knows and has planned our future. He has planned every one of our footsteps. He knows what we are going to do every moment. He knows the decisions we are going to make. He knows the hardships we are going to go through. Even though He has planned everything out, we still need to live to honor Him in every single thing that we do. When we are overwhelmed we need to look to The Lord, and keep our eyes fixed upon Him... Not fixed on our troubles. We need to cry out to him when we are despaired, and overwhelmed with our circumstances. He gives us our trials to draw us closer to Himself, to teach us to rely on Him and not on our own strength.
"I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I." Psalm 142:4-6
When reading this passage I was also reminded that when every man is against us the Lord is on our side. He will always care for us. It may seem at times that no one cares for our soul, but the Lord God always cares for our soul. We are His children, and He loves us as a father loves His children. He knows the path ahead of us, and He is our refuge. Even when our persecutors seem stronger than we are, we have the Lord on our side.
In Christian love,
Jane Ashley
I came across this verse in my devotional reading recently. The verse above really stood out to me for a few reasons...
When we are overwhelmed with the path ahead of us the Lord knows and has planned our future. He has planned every one of our footsteps. He knows what we are going to do every moment. He knows the decisions we are going to make. He knows the hardships we are going to go through. Even though He has planned everything out, we still need to live to honor Him in every single thing that we do. When we are overwhelmed we need to look to The Lord, and keep our eyes fixed upon Him... Not fixed on our troubles. We need to cry out to him when we are despaired, and overwhelmed with our circumstances. He gives us our trials to draw us closer to Himself, to teach us to rely on Him and not on our own strength.
"I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I." Psalm 142:4-6
When reading this passage I was also reminded that when every man is against us the Lord is on our side. He will always care for us. It may seem at times that no one cares for our soul, but the Lord God always cares for our soul. We are His children, and He loves us as a father loves His children. He knows the path ahead of us, and He is our refuge. Even when our persecutors seem stronger than we are, we have the Lord on our side.
In Christian love,
Jane Ashley
Friday, June 7, 2013
Well, I have decided to start up a new personal blog. I had been posting on one for quite a while, but I discontinued it, and I thought it would be nice to start up a new one!
I feel selfish sometimes when I blog, seeing as when blogging you're basically talking about yourself and your life... But, I remembered how much I loved blogging, and sharing my thoughts with everyone. So, I finally decided to jump in and try it again. I have decided that this blog is going to be based on what the Lord is doing in my life, how He is blessing me, and the trials He has put us in.
Life is rather exciting, and scary at the same time.
But... I am so thankful that my faith has found a resting place.
I don't ever have to go through a day alone. I don't have to worry about the future, because my path is already laid out for me. Even though I might go through struggles, and life might seem unsteady, I have a Rock who is firm and unshakable.
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
I have so much to be thankful for, and I want to share my joy.
Always,
Jane Ashley
I feel selfish sometimes when I blog, seeing as when blogging you're basically talking about yourself and your life... But, I remembered how much I loved blogging, and sharing my thoughts with everyone. So, I finally decided to jump in and try it again. I have decided that this blog is going to be based on what the Lord is doing in my life, how He is blessing me, and the trials He has put us in.
Life is rather exciting, and scary at the same time.
But... I am so thankful that my faith has found a resting place.
I don't ever have to go through a day alone. I don't have to worry about the future, because my path is already laid out for me. Even though I might go through struggles, and life might seem unsteady, I have a Rock who is firm and unshakable.
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
I have so much to be thankful for, and I want to share my joy.
Always,
Jane Ashley
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