Day 32-- God is Good

*post for Thursday, January 26, 2012*

Over the past month or so God has really been trying to teach me that He is good. He's good all the time even when my circumstances are far from good. God never changes, so He can't be good in the good times and then all of a sudden bad in the bad times. And not only is my God good, but He has good plans for me. Even when my actions create bad situations and the times when bad situations just happen upon us God is working it out for my good. He's good because He loves me enough to punish me when I sin. He's good because He allows me to go through trials so I learn to trust Him more than I ever have. God's plan for me is make me more like Christ, so anything He brings in my life to accomplish that purpose is good.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that

love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

Day 31--Who My God Is

*post for Wednesday, January 25, 2012*

As I continue on this journey of working through unfathomable hurt with God's help I was given some verses today about who my God is. It's easy to focus on circumstances, but what I really need to focus on is my God.

" Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: 

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of Thy wings.

Selah."

Psalm 61:1-4

The passage starts out with, "My heat is overwhelmed." There is no better way to describe to what I'm feeling right now. Even in my prayers at times all I've been able to pray is, "God, I'm overwhelmed!" I just love how the imagery in these verses describes to me who my God is to me. God is a rock to me and not just a rock, but a rock that is higher than me. When I am on a rock higher than me I'm no longer encompassed by my troubles, but rather I'm looking down on them. God is also a strong tower to me, a fortress, my enemies can't reach me to hurt me. And finally, my God covers me like a hen pulls her baby chicks to her and covers them with her wings. I can rest securely covered by my Heavenly Father.

Day 30--Promises

*post for Tuesday, January 24, 2012*

A few weeks ago I was reading the story about Sarah and Hagar in my devotions. I noticed several things reading through this account this time that I've never really paid attention to before. The first thing I noticed was the humanness of all the characters. I think sometimes we imagine Bible characters as characters from a fairy tale, but in reality they are, or were, real people just like us. As I was reading I kind of felt sympathy towards Hagar. After all, she was only doing what her mistress had told her to do and yet even her blessing was somewhat of a curse. I also kind of sympathized when Sarah when she dealt harshly with Hagar. Let's face it...2 women and 1 man NEVER ends well in any situation. I can imagine Sarah was extremely jealous of the fact that Hagar had conceived when she hadn't been able to. And Sarah was probably jealous of the fact that another woman had part of her husband. I mean, wouldn't any of us be jealous and react harshly if another woman was with our husband for any reason??
I think the most important lesson I've learned from this story though is that God has a plan for each of us individually. When we think of the covenant God made with Abraham we tend to just think of it including God, Abraham and Isaac. But in reality, Sarah was very much a part of the promise too. Hagar did have a son and if God had chosen He could have fulfilled His promise through Hagar's son, but He didn't. God fulfilled His promise to Abraham through Sarah. Sarah had been hurt a choice that she foolishly made and a choice that both Abraham and Hagar followed through with, but yet God still fulfilled His plan and His promise to Sarah. The thought that has really impacted me the most is this...the same God that fulfilled His promise to Sarah is the same God I serve today. He's the God that promised me that He has good plans for me and plans to prosper me and give me a future and a hope. People may hurt me and consequences from my own actions may hurt me and leave me devastated, but in the end my God will still fulfill His promises to me. I just need to trust Him and stop trying to do things in my own strength. I truly believe that God in His providence allowed me to read this story a few weeks ago so I would already have it in my head and my heart when my current circumstances arose. This particular truth has been one that I have clung to in the past few days.

Day 29--Times are Bad, but God is Good

*post for Monday, January 23, 2012*

I'm not sure what to write on this day. It was most certainly a memorable day, and not in a good way. In all reality it was probably the hardest day I've ever had. There is no way to put into words all the emotion and hurt that was felt on this day. It's hard to even look back at it and remember. I think my coping mechanism has been to just not think about it. But one thing I can say that I've learned so far is that God is faithful...always faithful. I struggle to see it and believe it sometimes, but He promised that He would never leave me or forsake me. He is always, always by my side  The simple fact that I am still alive and breathing and able to write this post right now is a living testimony to His faithfulness.
Thankful for a faithful God!