Because You Prayed for Me {Grace & Truth}

Last week I sent out an email to thousands of people asking for prayer.

I had hit a rough spot. You might say I met up with a cactus. Well, make that a dozen or two.

I felt paralyzed and alone.

I was angry.

I was deeply hurt.

I cried a lot.

I ate a lot of chocolate and I drank a lot of coffee.

I needed some kind of intervention.

So you prayed. I shared on Facebook how your prayers impacted me overnight. (While you read that, don’t forget to “like” my page. Shameless plug, I know, but I’d love to have you there! 🙂 )

Those cactus? Didn’t go anywhere.

Those barbs? They still hurt.

Those unknowns? Still there.

That weariness? Yup, still have that, too.

But I also have a new strength. A greater wisdom. And a deeper humility.

I grew.

I’m still growing.

I tend to think I’m going through another time of spiritual growing pains. Isn’t that what growth is… painful? Isn’t that what pain is…the opportunity to grow?

James says to count it all joy when we go through trials.

I find great joy in the fact that somehow the enemy is worried at how God wants to use me. So he needs to attack again to see if he can get me to fall. I guess I did something right somewhere to make him worried enough to try shaking my little world up, again.

So when you are going through that hard time, remember, God’s got this. 

But more importantly, God’s got YOU. Live the moment. Feel the pain. Learn from mistakes.

God’s going to win, so make sure you are on His side!

Right now, I’m still troubled. Right now, I’m still waiting. Right now I still need a lot of healing.

But right now, I have peace. I have rest. And I’m holding on to my faith.

This week I read a post from Kathryn Shirey. She wrote this:

“When you’re feeling down and frustrated that God’s not answering your prayers, give these questions some thought:

• Are you taking the long view and seeing how God is at work throughout your life, even if you don’t see Him in this moment?
• Are you singing songs of praise louder than your cries of complaint?
• Are you committed to being faithful to God and to His direction, or are you still prone to fits of unfaithfulness?
• Have you allowed God to release you from the bonds that hold you back, or are you still shackling yourself to your past?
• Are you asking God for His battle plan and letting Him lead the charge against whatever you’re facing?”

I encourage you to go read her whole post. It spoke SO much truth to me.

Kathryn please grab the featured button and share on your blog! Thank you for sharing your reflections in this post. They were a huge blessing to me!

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