Afraid to be Vulnerable?
I think I discovered in church yesterday why so many people are afraid to go to church. They’re afraid of being vulnerable. Being a hormonal pregnant woman right now, just about anything can produce tears. But what I really got out of it is that if you are in the presence of God, you are laid bare. There is nothing that He does not see or know about you. If you are open to it, then you won’t be afraid of it. Usually I’m afraid to go forward during altar call. Not because I’m embarrassed to be seen going up front, but because I don’t think I’d even be able to explain myself to the prayer counselor because I’d just be bawling my eyes out. I think in church, many of us are able to hide our fears and doubts. During prayer time at home, no big deal. No one sees me.
Which brings me to my real point of today’s blog:
The main message of the sermon yesterday was about finding God’s pathway to joy. One of the points that stuck out for me was what God thinks is good for me, I may not think is good for me. The path to joy is often littered with pain. For me, that pain often involves my kids. I’ve thought about this before, but when it really comes down to it, I really can do very little to protect my kids from Satan’s temptations, lies, and snares. Every time they leave my house, and sometimes even when they are in it, I am powerless to stop the destruction. I think the only thing I have on my side is prayer. And when God is unresponsive to those prayers, it’s very hard to trust Him. See, I don’t want to see my kids go through pain to get to the joy. But if that’s what God thinks is best for them to bring them close to Him, do I really get to argue with that? One of the things I pray most often for my kids is that God will expose the lies that Satan has got them to believing. About the way they act, about what they say, it’s not pleasing to God. Right now those conversations with them seem to fall on deaf ears.
Lord, help me to entrust my children to you, and to know that you are doing what is best for them, and for me.
Something I have learned about life’s trials, struggles and storms whether they belong to me directly or they are my cross to bear by association … God always has something for ME to learn and receive.
In God’s Holy Word there are many promises to stand on, lean on or carry me through when a current problem with my kidos or my finances or extended family and etc is causing me much heartache, grief and stress. God may have an area of my life/my heart that He wants to nurture and strengthen or possibly there is a problem area in my life/my heart He wants to tear down and free me from – or both.
I would like to share these truths I’ve learned on my life’s journey:
* As I pray for God to do a work/make a change in someone or something affecting my life I must be open to the great possibility that in order to attain the result I hope and pray for I very well may be required by God to make some changes in my own life/heart for it’s accomplishment.
* Everything is in God’s timing and in ALL things God is ALWAYS good and FAITHFUL … even when we are suffering the greatest pain and loss God is at work and is doing something good in us and for us and for those we love. To accept the good I believe God will work to my favor does not mean I deny pain I am enduring. All works together to help us grow closer to God and more mature in our faith.
* God doesn’t promise his children a life free from sickness, sorrow and pain. God’s promise is that He will be faithful to take care of us each and every time we are hurting.
* Sometimes the greatest lessons are in the waiting on the Lord. I can delay His blessings for myself and my family by trying to make things happen on my own.
* God is ALL knowing, merciful, gracious, ever loving and forever forgiving and because of who HE is and how He continually makes himself known in my life I believe.
* God may be quiet but he is not absent.
* God may disagree with our wants and desires for our life because it is best for us or perhaps it is best for those whom are a witness to our life and our testimony or both.
* I AM SO LOVED, so are you!!!