Give it all to God

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."  James 1:6

A young woman almost 8 months pregnant walks into a doctor's office for her regular appointment. After what appears to be routine blood work and ultrasound, the doctor tells her she is sending her for another test with a specialist.  The doctor has spotted what he believes to be a hole in her baby's heart and is a sign of Down Syndrome.  Over the next week, more tests are performed and even the specialist could not say for sure what she saw.  The doctor goes over all the scenarios and even the "challenges" of raising a baby with Down Syndrome.
The young woman and her husband do the only thing they know to do.  They pray.  This young woman bows herself before the Lord, begging Him to take care of her baby, no matter the result.  She already loves this baby no matter what health issues it may have.  This young mother-to-be freely gives her worry and anxiety away to the Lord.  She cries out for God to take away her worry, to not allow the devil to steal her joy over this baby, and to allow her to spend the rest of her life loving this baby.  She believes in the Lord.  She trusts the Lord.  She gives away her worry and leaves it at the altar of the Lord.
This young mother-to-be was me.  I cannot tell you that I knew that my baby girl would be fine, but I can tell you I knew that my God would take care of her.  My husband and I did the only thing we knew to do with all certainty --- give our fears and anxiety to the Lord.  For the rest of my pregnancy, I did not worry over those tests, over what my baby may or may not have, or even if we could care for a baby with Down Syndrome.  My God gave us joy and allowed us to spend the rest of my pregnancy in excited anticipation of our baby girl's arrival.
Were the doctors wrong?  Was there no hole in her heart?  Or did God work a miracle?  I can tell you that the doctors blamed refractions in the picture and every other possible malfunction of equipment and not one of them proclaimed a miracle.  But I can tell you that I believe God worked it all out for His good!  I didn't need my baby's birth to be proclaimed as a miracle in order for it to be special.  I just needed the Joy of the Lord and His unwavering love for me!
So when life hands you a burden that seems unbearable or when worry takes over, take it all to the Lord.  Take it and leave it at the altar.  You must not just take it to Him but leave it there.  He cannot bear it for you if you still try to keep it to worry over.  He wants to take it from you.  He wants to give you joy even in what seems like the darkest places, but you must give it all to Him.  When you do that, you may see miracles, but you will most definitely see the Hand of God and His unfailing Love for you!

Dear Lord, I pray that those who are walking in dark paths of worry and doubt will come to you with their fears and worries, that they will not only bring them to you but that they will leave them with you.  I pray that more and more of us will truly place our trust in you by giving our burdens to you.  Thank you for taking our burdens and replacing them with joy and love and grace.  Amen

The Lord is Good

“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”  Nahum 1:7

I have a friend whose daughter has suddenly become very anxious when she leaves the house.  Her daughter begs her to not leave and is fearful her mother will, for some reason, not return.

Irrational? Maybe.  Common? Yes.

Are you ever fearful?  What fears have a stronghold on your life?  Would you consider it irrational?

I find great comfort in this verse from Nahum.  Just look at the first 4 words --- "The Lord is good."  Yes, He is!  The Lord is good.  He is also a "stronghold."  He is a place that provides refuge against attack.  Yet often times I am so guilty of looking for refuge in my own strength.  I get so very frustrated with myself and find myself often discouraged and helpless.  How could I not look to the Lord first?  

My God has saved me from many trials, many poor choices, and many days of darkness.  My God is good.  He is good even to someone as undeserving as me.  He has given me chance after chance.  He has forgiven me more times that I can remember.  He has wiped away my sins forever because My God is good.  

Just like my friend's daughter, we all have fears.  We all have that one thing that holds us back, that keeps us from achieving our dreams, or that cripples us in our place.  Our fears are strong, yet My God is stronger!

My God "knows those who trust in Him!" Does He know you?  

Dear Lord, I pray today that anyone that does not know you will come and fall at your feet, confess their sins, and believe that you are the one, true God.  I pray that they will know that you are Good. Lord, use me as a vessel to share your goodness with others.  Amen