Life can be brutal. Seriously. Raise your hand if you at one time or another have thought this sucks!!!
My sweet neighbor and I were outside today and conversed about the weather, about sadness and about how life is life. You can get bitter or sad or angry but then you miss out on the beauty before you.
See this man has walked a hard road. His entire life could be made into a weekly prime time tv show. We have lived next to him for five years and in that time he has had some major trials. First he fell out of tree with a chainsaw while it was running and had to have some major surgeries and then a very long recovery time. Very shortly after this his wife passed away. Then his hunting dog passed only a few weeks later. His son died about six months after his wife had passed away. When you think it could get no worse then his wife's dog passed away, his grandson went to prison and recently his nephew is paralyzed after a wreck......
Yet, he gets up every morning with the sun. He greets the new day every morning. Instead of hiding or giving up. He didn't withdraw. He still mows the lawn for many neighbors. He still believes in God. He still chokes up over the grief of his wife.... He is still grieving for his son...... But he knows the hope and peace that only God can give him.
I know that this strength could only come from God.
I need this reminder. Maybe you do too?
We all walk out different journeys. We all have different sins, trials and pain.
However; we all have one God.
He is faithful. He won't walk away from us. He is there even when others are not. He knows the pain we go through and it pains him. He knows my neighbor and I trust that in all this God has a purpose.
I had a different life years ago. Years ago I didn't know God. There was no hope or peace. I was not a good person.
I got to share some of my story with my son tonight. I was hoping it would be many years before I would have to share some details, but for whatever reason God wanted the truth out tonight.
Maybe he needed to hear the details. There is power in our testimonies.
See my family and I are not perfect. Shocking I know. If you have read any of this blog I hope you have caught that by now.
My son is a little boy trying to grow up too fast. He is walking way easily into some bad things. Old me would be worried and terrified; crying and running.
However; right now I am the opposite. I am fighting. I am praying. I am aware of the enemy and his attack. I will not just sit back and give up. I am asking for help and wisdom.
Old me would have tried to do it all on her own. That old girl would messed things up more.
When faced with all the drama and conflict lately I honestly didn't know where to begin. Or what to do first. Anger tried to take control, fear tried to rush in, HIS peace, however silenced it all.
He quickly reminds me he is control. In this life we will have trials BUT the pressure, the preservance and the faith is building something up in my son, my daughter, my husband and in me.
He reminds me that:
We are changing.
We are starting a new legacy.
We are here for a purpose.
We are covered.
So are you!
Do you know that you are defended? Do you know that you can keep it real? Do you know that it is okay to be open and honest? Do you know you don't have to lie (by the way faking it is lying)? Do you know that you don't have to climb some social ladder in any church to feel apart?
You belong because you are his child. Not because of what you have done or haven't done; or who you know. He doesn't care who likes your status on Facebook. He could care less on who follows you on Instagram.
He has overcome and uses ALL things for his good. It is time for your heart to get to know hope and peace.
You can have hope and peace even when life sucks. There is only one person who can give it to you! His name is Jesus! He died on a cross for you! Yes you! He did die on the cross for all of us but he would have died on the cross even if it had just been you. He did that for you.
I pray that today you wake up. It is time to keep it real. Don't hide anymore. It is time to experience his hope and peace. Life will try to make you angry and bitter; don't let it. He wants you to experience his hope and peace; especially when life just plain sucks!