You Raise Me Up

Psalm 119:28 My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to [the promise of] your word.

During the seasons of our life, there are periods of time that are particularly harder than others.  My dad would often quote Matthew 5:45 saying that the sun rises on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 

We were never promised that life would be smooth sailing without obstacles.  In fact, John 16:33 says this: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In 2013 and 2014 our family experienced several heartbreaking difficulties back to back.  Our first grandson passed away invitro and came into this world still born. Instead of rejoicing there was a funeral.  My husband had to have an emergency surgery, my brother and his wife lost her beautiful 19-year-old daughter to a tragic car accident and I was diagnosed with stage IV cancer.  There were intense periods of heaviness and yes weeping that felt as though life was dissolving away.

But God!  God has great promise for us in His word. The Lord has great things and desires great things for us.   We are told in Psalm 119:28 that we are strengthened according to His word.  When all around us seems to fall apart and come undone there is one sure place to go and that is God’s word.  He has the power to keep us in the middle of our storm.  Do not feel guilty or ashamed when you feel like everything is falling apart.  I believe God hurts when we hurt. Cry out to God and he will strengthen you.  Open up the Word of God and let it become ointment to your hurting soul.  God does heal, God does restore, God does care about you! His love is relentless.

Since walking through those difficult days in our family we can testify of the joy of four new babies born to our family. We have survived surgeries, health crisis and cancer.  God has been our peace, our joy, our healer and our victor.  I couldn’t do life without Him.  If you are experiencing emotional heaviness let Him strengthen you today through the power of His word.  Hold fast to His promise of abundant life.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, be my strength today.  Remind me of the good promises of your Word.  I confess my need for you. I trust you with my pain and ask you to bring healing to my hurting soul.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

The Struggle is REAL !

There is a story that is told about a man who came upon a butterfly cocoon at the moment the creature was beginning its escape.  The man stopped to watch in awe and wonder as the creature began its struggle for freedom.  Over time the butterfly had struggled so hard that it ceased moving as if it was giving up.  The head was through the hole in the cocoon but the rest of the butterfly remained hidden within.  The man reached down and began to “help” free the butterfly from its self-made prison by pulling the cocoon apart.  Soon the butterfly was completely free from the cocoon and the man waited and watched to see the butterfly unfurl its wings and take flight but it didn’t happen.  Then he noticed the butterfly didn’t look quite right.  He took the butterfly to a scientist who specialized in butterflies to see what might be the matter with the butterfly.  Upon inspecting the creature, the scientist looked at the man and asked, “did you help this butterfly from it’s cocoon in any way?”  the man answered, “why yes, it was struggling so and seemed completely worn out, so I tore the cocoon apart to set it free.”  The scientist replied, “what you did was doom this creature to death”.  He went on to explain, “the metamorphosis that takes place isn’t complete until the butterfly escapes the cocoon, the small escape hole forces the excess blood from the body into the wings enabling the wings to enlarge and be useful for flight.  The life of this creature becomes abundant with the completion of the transformation.  The transformation is a process necessary for the change from caterpillar to butterfly.

Romans 12:2 “And do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

All too often in the church world, we think that everything should come easily, that if there is some sort of struggle, then we must have missed God or we are in the wrong place or wrong congregation.  The truth is….life is difficult at times.  We don’t always have smooth sailing.  The Word tells us that we shouldn’t be like the world, meaning that our life, our walk, our purpose shouldn’t fit the mold of the world system.  We are called to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”.

The word transformed is translated from the Greek word metamorphosis.  It describes a changing like the one a caterpillar/butterfly goes through to fulfill its God ordained destiny.  The struggle is a big part of the process.  We struggle with schedules, not enough time in the day, pressures from family, pressures from work, financial pressures.  It all ads up and we can feel trapped or imprisoned by our circumstances.  If we could just realize that the transformation doesn’t take place from wrestling with the issues that life presents us.  The transformation takes place as we allow the Word of God to change our way of thinking from the ways of the world to a way of faith in Christ Jesus.  There is still a struggle but it is different in its nature. 

Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

We still have a burden to bear when we walk with Jesus but the burden is nothing like the weight of our old life.  Walk with Him.  There is a struggle but it is much better than walking alone.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, I pray You would let me walk in the burden of Your yoke.  Let me be transformed by Your Word and Your Spirit.  In Jesus Name. Amen.