Devotionals

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4 Flying was my least favorite way to travel.  I would rather drive two days to Texas than take a simple four-hour flight.  This time we were literally traveling across the country, California to New Jersey.  Two of my boys were going to compete and, unlike me, they were excited.  Driving to the airport my heart began to pound.  I wanted to cry and I began concoct reasons for turning back and cancelling the trip.  I prayed, “Lord, please take this fear from me.”  I had prayed that same prayer for every flight I had ever been on before.  Yet, I still had the same desperate fear that filled every part of me.  We landed in New Jersey and made it to the hotel.  The boys, unscathed from the trip, sat down to watch Television.  I was still on internal panic mode, so I plopped on the bed and started to pray, “Lord, why won’t you take this fear from me? I keep asking and it’s still there.”  He answered, “because you don’t fully trust me.”  It was a moment of self-revelation…” you’re right” I responded, “I don’t fully trust you.”  That was the last time I stepped on a plane feeling fear.  It was not the last time fear arose, but it was the last time I allowed it to override my trust in God.  “Whatever you have for me, Lord.”  became my battle cry.    When your up against something difficult, remember that feelings may arise over situations but we do not have to be held captive to them. We have a choice to turn inward or turn upward to Him. Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that you are with me in everything.  Let my plans be aligned with your plans and help me to rest in the trust that you will always be there with me.

Michael and big brother Joshua having some dress up fun. Michael loved playing the Drill Instructor. “but he said to me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 After my eldest son enlisted to become a Marine, I watched videos of recruits at boot camp.  I was horrified watching drill instructors running around screaming like crazed lunatics.  They would gang up three Drill Instructors to one young recruit, screaming and yelling at him as he was trying to tie his shoe, do a push up, make a bed or answer a question.  I was bothered and confused as to why they had to create such a chaotic environment and put these recruits under such mental and emotional stress.  It seemed fruitless to me and I was angry that my son would endure that training.   Then God reminded me of how I train my athletes.  I teach them to practice how they want to perform. We drill to simulate a fighting situation so when they encounter it in competition, they can react properly. Immediately my thoughts migrated to the day when Pearl Harbor was attacked and the sudden chaos that those young men and women were thrust into as they were taken by surprise.  Then the epiphany came; by simulating an intensely difficult situations in boot camp, they are training these men to learn how to maintain focus and make quick decisions under extreme pressure and duress.  The struggles they were putting these Marine recruits through were necessary and important for their growth, change and ultimate ability to function properly if or when they are ever put difficult situation. I began to appreciate the process rather than despise it.  I look at the trials of life as a boot camp for spiritual training.  I have to continually practice how I want to perform, turning to Jesus for the power to get through difficult times rather than trying to power through alone.  It is not always easy giving up control and learning to trust, but the more I practice the easier it gets and the weaker I am, the stronger I am through His power. Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy.  During difficult times, help us to remember that we do not have to power through them alone and that you will give us the strength we need through your Son, Jesus Christ.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18   I read that you should not help a butterfly out of its chrysalis.  Butterflies actually needs the struggle of getting out.  The process allows necessary fluids in its body to start moving and be pumped into its wings to expand and harden, allowing the butterfly to fly.  Being deprived of the struggle will doom them to a life on the ground.  The struggle is actually needed to complete the process of change.   I happen to come across this tidbit of information at the most perfect time in life because I had been dealing with a surge of struggles.  New trials in business, my home and schooling my boys.  Even the blessing of a promotion for my husband brought a trial. He was moved to the graveyard shift and I battle with being able to sleep when he is not home.  I was exhausted and sleep deprived.  On top of it all, my body was betraying me and I found myself dealing with two different autoimmune diseases.  I suffered physical pain to the point of having difficulty getting out of bed.   At that point in my life, I felt like George Jetson on the out-of-control treadmill yelling “Jane!  Get me off this crazy thing!” Quite honestly, that is how I feel about life during struggles more often than I would like to admit.  I just want to yell “Lord!  Get me off this crazy world!”  But I am learning that there is a reason for the process of struggle and God will ultimately use it for His glory and our blessing.  I do not know when or how or why, but I do know that He will.    Like the butterfly, I am being transformed through struggles. I learn to let go a little more each day and allow God to be in control.  I learn that in the end it may not be what we want, but it will be ok.  I learn to rely on His promises more and more.  Like the butterfly, the struggle is necessary for complete spiritual change because we are in a state of transformation from earthly to heavenly preparing to fly into His glory.   Prayer:  Jesus, thank you for being with us as we face trials, struggles and sufferings. Lord, help me to remember that the difficulties of this earth are temporary. Transform my heart to seek you for strength and guidance as we go through struggles.