Hello there..today I'm doing a demonstrative post with a feeling photo for you so you can relate if you can, how I am feeling of late.. I am going to be honest here as I feel it is necessary..I have because of this nasty recession..been holding things in, putting on a happy face and feeling the above..I am a very blessed woman..I have an amazing husband..the most wonderful kids and in- laws that anyone would be lucky to call their own.. more family and a home with every blessing I can think of right now...but the uncertainty of this economy is torturing me..I think my faith has been tested in a way that has stretched me and caused me to catch my breath daily as I have needed to rely completely on my faith, to make it through the day..as parents we have sat down and had conversations we would have missed had we been doing "better" and had plenty of work to sustain us..but work is trickling in and as a woman my security is a little shaken..do you feel the same way? Have you ever been braver? Is that the right word even? I feel braver..anxoiusly...I guess when I took this picture I thought about how if I can be real about how I'm feeling maybe it would be helpful to others and we can reach out and take this tool of the enemy and turn it into something positive and enduring..I would like to be calm and carry on as they say..(heheee) and maybe if you can relate..you can too..thanks for stopping by! love ya mean it! Stephanie
5 comments:
Stephanie, I know exactly how you feel. I know the Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, even if our nation isn't. This is really a time when we are going to have to share the hope we have with those around us...can you imagine those who have no "faith" to hang on to? Thanks for being so candid, those of us who are trying so hard to be brave need to be able to be vulnerable from time to time, it is all good.
Bless your heart for telling it like it is. It is hard to keep a smile on our faces when inside we're all distraught. The economy has had a big effect on us too and has made us live more frugally than we were already living. But, it's been two years of living a quieter life, and I am getting into it. The Lord's Prayer says, Give us this day our daily bread. It doesn't mention the rest of the week, month or year, ~ this day. I do freak out when we get notices of higher fees, and higher bills coming our way because of rates being raised, but there isn't anything I can accomplish by my worrying about it. ~ Dear Lord, be merciful to me a sinner and help though my unbelief. Be my strength when I am weak, and let me remember your uplifting promises.
***
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isa 40:29&31
We don't know what each day will bring us, but we do have hope in Him to lead us and carry us through each one. Things may get a lot worse, and we need to keep our hearts trusting in Him.
Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady
These truly are tough times...and uncertainty that surrounds us can certainly test our faith, and cause us to be filled with worry and fear. I'm a firm believer in being honest and open (espcially with God) and through that honestly, we can pour our hearts out before the Lord.
Personally, we've been feeling the crunch since 2006...and during periods of the past 4 years my husband has been without a job or unemployement due to being self employeed.
Has it been tough? Yeah. Has it seems unfair? Yeah. Has God remained faithful? Yeah!!
God has so gently been teaching me through this season that NOTHING....absolutely NOTHING catches him by surprise. He's the same good in the good time (economy) as he is in the bad times (economy).
Have we had to make some major changes in our life style? You betcha. But, we are seeing things so differently now and those things that once seemed so important, are no longer.
God's word promises that those that wait upon him will renew their strength. Praying, that today your strength is renewed!
Blessings.
Stephanie, you are a blessing. Thank you for your transparency here today. We've gone through hard times...at one point, we went for 10 months without my husband having employment. You will feel braver ...strengthened in your faith...even though you may not feel it right now.
In fact, I just did a blog post about a fear that I've been dealing with. If you care to check it out the web address is
http://hisgiftsofgrace.blogspot.com I believe it was for November 29
I'm adding you to my prayer list and will stay in touch.
Sometimes I feel fear set in with all the what-ifs....what if this? What if that? And then I feel guilty because I KNOW that the Lord will provide, Like He always has, and if I'm feeling fear that means that I have no FAITH. There cannot be both.
It's like the line in Anne Of Green Gables where she tells Marilla that she's in the "depths of despair" and Marilla says that she has never had that feeling because "Despair would mean to turn your back on God." Ouch.
Thanks for sharing such a personal struggle. I think it's one we can all relate to ;)
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