My plan/His plan

OK. So tomorrow, my baby (She turns 21 next week.) leaves for Washington state. She is driving alone. I SO wanted Jeff to go with her and then fly back. SO wanted that to happen. Then, the Lord said to me, "So you're willing to trust Jeff with her safety, but you're not okay if I go with her."......Oh. Well....."Or perhaps you're not comfortable with the plan I have in place for her trip." Ummm........I really wasn't looking at it like that.......you have a plan? "Of course, it may cause her some discomfort." Discomfort? "But she will learn of me. I will reveal Myself to her." Discomfort? What kind of discomfort? Is this necessary? "She must need me before she will understand my place in her life." Yes, but......I don't want her to have pain. "Pain? Like the pain I suffered for her sake on the cross?" Well...okay. So her pain would have a purpose? To bring her closer to you? "Always, my plans have a purpose. Always it is my desire to bring my children closer to me." So her temporary discomfort would ultimately bring comfort, joy, peace.....I get it. You love her, don't you? "With an everlasting commitment that you will never understand." Take care of my baby, Lord.

FAITH (Freedom As I Trust Him)

Life is interesting. My last post was 3 months ago. Today I feel a need to put down a few thoughts concerning handling of certain situations the Lord has allowed in my life. As I read my previous blog, my own words jump out to smack me, or to caress me, but definitely to admonish and remind me of my position with Jehovah.

I was thinking of faith today. So many years I looked at faith as mainly exercised in the area of financial or material need. I have faith that the Lord will provide. Very true. But my faith should extend so much farther and encompass so much more of life. Every issue or circumstance or situation that draws my stomach into a knot is a place for faith to step in. When I just can't go on do I trust that He can also meet my emotional needs? When wisdom is scarce, will He come to my aid with the answers that seem to escape me? When I face a temptation that I just cannot defeat, is it His strength that I am lacking? How do we exercise faith at these moments?

When I had my second child, a daughter, my mom came to help me at home as I returned from the hospital. The second night home, Joy was not to be comforted. She cried and she fussed and when I thought I had finally gotten her to sleep and tried to lay her down, she would wake up wailing once again. Finally, I took her to my mom. And said, "Take her I don't know what else to do. I can't do this anymore."

I think this is what the Lord wants us to do with our burdens right away. Hand them over. Let Him work. Realize He can handle it much better than we can, and He wants to. Instead of struggling alone or trying to find our own solutions, faith in Him who loves us brings us immediately to His feet, with an upturned face, pleading for His help, guidance, answers, strength, provision. His is our Abba Father. He wants to "be there for us." We need only to relax, unfold our arms, unclench our hands and let go..........