I was making my coffee this morning using one of those portable, pour over tools…you know what I mean, right? It makes one cup at a time. The process is slow and steady. During my wait I was rocking and swaying from side to side. Likely due in part from the comfort of the rhythm but let’s face it…also due to impatience and anticipation of what is to come…
A WARM CUP OF JOE!
As I rocked and waited I was struck by the similarities of waiting-for-the-pour-over and waiting-for-answers-from-God. The waiting from God is not only for “answers”, specifically, but also for His direction, wisdom, confirmation, healing, discernment, or a host of other responses from our Lord.
Yet, I know that patience and confidence while waiting is not always my posture. I am fighting the desire to do-it-on-my-own, to make-my-own decision based on my limited knowledge and understanding. I am pushing back against Satan and his minions who lie to me and deceive me in thinking that my way and my timing is better than God’s way and God’s timing. I am swaying and rocking in my anticipation of God’s response. I struggle to slow down and wait to hear His still, soft voice. All the while knowing that His direction and path for me will ultimately warm and soothe my soul like a fresh, warm cup of coffee which comforts me on a chilly morning…if I just wait for Him.
Just like when we rush our pour-over coffee and end up with a watered-down, disappointing cup of joe, when we rush into decisions without waiting on God’s guidance and discernment through the Holy Spirit, we may face unexpected disappointment and trials. The WAIT is worth it, Friends! God often has a reason for the wait. It may be that He has something better for us that is still developing…still brewing. The wait is necessary for a rich, robust, and fulfilling result!
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you for waiting on me…for not giving up on me. You desire to show me, and all Your creation, Your deep love and compassion. Thank you, Jesus, for your patience and faithfulness as You wait on us to turn to You. Lord, help me to trust You, to wait on You, and to recognize Your voice. You know what’s best for me. Help me to let go of my own control, pride, and desire for attention and recognition. I am Yours and You are mine. I choose to wait for You in all I do. Help me to be faithful to You. Help me to trust You patiently and confidently in the wait. Amen.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
What are you currently waiting on?
Are you struggling in the midst of the wait?
How are you struggling and what is the result of that struggle?
What is the next step you may take to be obedient to God in the wait?
Thank You, Lord, for Your boundless love for me. You promise me in this verse that my ultimate source of HOPE & ENCOURAGMENT is from You through Your grace. Help me to remember this promise always. And help me to live into the HOPE that only You can provide, rather than putting my hope in the things of this world that will only lead to disappointment.
Your HOPE is not fickle or fake; it is not limited or dwindling. Your HOPE is filled with Your deep love for me; filled with the promise of eternal life with You, as a result of the death and resurrection of Your one and only son Jesus on my behalf. Your HOPE reminds me that I am free from the chains of my sin through Your forgiving mercy and grace. Your HOPE gives me comfort and encouragement knowing that I am seen, known, and worthy as Your created child. Your HOPE promises that I am never alone through the mountains and valleys of my life. Your HOPE is true…lovely…reliable…steady.
You, Lord, are my Guide and source of strength. You, Lord, are my Provider and Leader. You, Lord, are my Savior, Comforter, and HOPE-giver! Amen and Thank you, Jesus.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
Where have you placed your hope in the past besides our God?
What were the results?
Did you find these sources to be reliable and trustworthy? Why or why not?
What are the changes you are able to make in your life to move your hope to Jesus and the One True God?
Abba, Father, You are LOVE. And through that love you are full of mercy and grace for your creation – mankind. Lord, You gave me the freedom to choose You and obey You OR I may choose to follow someone or something else. Serving someone else may be serving myself – chasing what I think will make me happy, doing what I want to do when I want to do it. Or, I may choose to serve other idols by trying to find something, buy something, or do something to make me happy, prove my worth, or earn my way through good deeds.
Lord, thank you for this clear message that I am saved by YOUR mercy and grace…only. I am broken and I am a sinful being. There is NOTHING I can do to earn my way into a perfect eternity with you when I am an imperfect being on my own. I have nothing to brag about. Yet my present and my future are not lost because when I choose You and Your Son as my Savior, then Your grace, mercy and forgiveness saves me.
Lord, help me remember that my salvation is in You. My path to eternity with you is my CHOICE. It is my choice to follow you and accept Your Son, Jesus, as my Messiah and Savior. The sacrifice of His life on the cross, the blood He shed for me and my sin, and the glorious rising from death to conquer sin for ALL, forever, is the way to eternity. Jesus is my Way to eternity. Jesus is the path to complete wholeness. Jesus is my joy.
Last night my Dear Hubby and I were talking about my latest doctor’s appointment on 9/18/2023 and my ongoing maladies:
autoimmune disease that we are still working to control after 2-3 years of symptoms,
ongoing insomnia issues,
five years, and counting, of menopause symptoms,
side effects of medications,
side effects from autoimmune symptoms,
fatigue, stress/anxiety, and general malaise, at times.
My Hubby mentioned that my current struggles remind him of the story of Job…How God permitted Satan to bring trials to Job’s life as a testament to Job’s righteousness as a faithful servant. Job experienced personal and financial loss, illness, suffering and even rejection from his remaining family and friends as a result of the Enemy’s plagues against him. Yet in the midst of those trials, Job remained faithful to God. Even when he wife challenged him and his decision to continue to submit to God, he remained faithful and shared his heart with her.
His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He [Job] replied, “You are talking like a foolish[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
Job’s friends challenged him…even blamed him…that he had to have done something wrong to be in the situation of struggle that he was facing. Job continued to argue his case that he was not to blame; yet he did not know why this was happening to him. In all of this, Job did not just talk about God with his friends and his wife. He also cried out toGod with his struggles and confusion.
Job’s words and actions have also brought me words of HOPE and JOY. Job has reminded me that my God and Father cares for me. He knows my limitations and He desires to strengthen me and my relationship with him through and due to my trials. I must go through these situations for growth and renewed closeness to my Savior.
In summary, some of the LESSONS I learned from the Book of Job are the following:
I am able to love God and remain faithful to him while lamenting my losses and burdens.
God is big enough to handle my honesty and my laments. (Plus…He already knows them anyway.)
I am able to pray to God about all my fears and doubts.
God will never leave me and he protects me in my trials.
Even in the midst of the most devastating trials, I may still put my hope and joy in the Lord.
God is in control of all things.
My trials have the ability to draw me closer to my Savior.
Unlike Job’s wife and friends, my Hubby has supported, encouraged and cared for me through my health journey. He has protected me when I have struggled to set boundaries. He has provided countless foot rubs when I need to relax and rest. He has gifted me with little (and not so little) surprises to help bring me joy and community with those I love. Thank you, Pat, for your care, compassion and love. You are a gift from God to me.
I hope and pray the story of Job brings you comfort and hope in the midst of your trials, too, my Friends. Bless you this day and every day!
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you for your faithfulness to us. Thank you for the promise to never leave us, the promise to never burden us with more than we can bare, and the promise to love us and build us up during and through our trials. Our hope is in you, Jesus. You have sacrificed your life to save ours. Thank you for your unconditional love. Amen.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
What is your current trial or trials?
Who are you leaning on…yourself or your Savior?
Have you been honest with yourself and with Jesus about your fears, your concerns and your frustrations?
It’s been three MONTHS since my last update! On June 21, 2023, I posted Life’s Journey #16 – New Meds / New Challenges to share with you my choice to try a new drug for my autoimmune disease. I can’t believe it has been that long! Today was my first appointment with my doctor after making the change.
The GOOD NEWS!
My bloodwork is good!
My blisters are smaller and fewer overall!
I am seeing improvement!!
The NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS!
I am experiencing joint pain…knees, hips, hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. So much so that I am not able to do normal activities such as kayaking, jogging, mowing the yard (oh, darn), and even opening cans and jars!
I have to stop the drug for one month to determine if the joint pain is related to the drug.
I may have relapses during this break on the drug.
If it is not due to the drug then I have to see another specialist to determine if I have developed another autoimmune malady.
Our decision to stop the drug for one month brings mixed emotions for me. It is disappointing because I feel like I am gradually getting better by being on it. My blisters are fewer and smaller than they have been up to this point. BUT I am encouraged that I have a doctor that is cautious and concerned for my overall well-being. She does NOT want to trade one area of pain with another area of pain. She feels this is our best choice to truly determine if the two are related.
My WIN in this TRIAL: We have a path forward!
Stop for one month.
If pain subsides, then we switch drugs.
If pain remains, then we schedule appointment with a Rheumatologist for additional evaluation.
I am so grateful for the support of my family, my doctor, my friends, and especially my faith that God has this in His control. He knows what I am going through, and He knows what is ahead for me to learn, to be patient, and to grow in this experience.
Thank you, Jesus, for your love and guidance and strength in the midst of what is unknown for me, BUT clearly known by you. I trust you to bring me through this! Thank you for the Truth of your Word from Psalms:
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
I would love to support you, my Sweet Friend, with any trials you may be having. Please share in the Comments below how I may best pray for you. If you are not comfortable sharing publicly, then you may email me at stacy@stacyturley.com.
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