Are your struggles too hard? Do you question where God is leading? Every Christian goes through periods of trials and testing, but God will see you through and bring you out with stronger faith and a more powerful testimony on the other side. He will not leave you alone.
2MefromHim Devotionals
But God has seen my hardship … Genesis 31:42
“Spirit, take me where my trust is without borders.” A popular praise song prompted me to pray that God would increase my trust, and then water began rushing into my boat and I felt as if I were drowning. Have you been there? The place where you’re so confident that God is walking with you that you pray for even more growth and then say, but God, that’s not what I had in mind?
I often I identify with the apostle, Peter. Not only did Peter always want the biggest and best share of whatever Jesus offered, he rushed in and asked for things he wasn’t ready for. Like Peter, climbing out of the boat and walking across the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee, I long to be as close to the Lord. Also like Peter, I get in over my head and wonder what in the world I was thinking.
Sometimes the testing and trials pile up one upon the other until I feel overwhelmed and unequipped. In those moments of fear I question how God chooses to control my circumstances, and my prayers turn to “Lord, help my unbelief.” I feel more like Job, sitting on his garbage heap, scraping himself with a piece of broken pottery, while enduring the criticism of his wife and so-called friends.
I need a serious dose of the Bible’s “but God’s”. When I say but God, it may mean that I don’t see where He is going. The “but God’s” in scripture demonstrate how God brought victory out of supposed defeat, how God was with someone, even when they felt abandoned. There are encouraging words for the hurting, “but God remembered”, “but God has seen”, “but God will be with you”, “but God intended it for good”, “For the battle is not yours but God’s”.
I counted 64 times when I could find something hopeful prefaced by “but God”. Those are statements worth concentrating on. I need to remember those statements of God’s care, and then pray, and trust when all is dark. Whatever is facing you today, I can say, “But God has a plan. He will not leave you alone. If you trust Him for your salvation, trust Him also for your daily needs, no matter how large. God is there for you, in the midst of the waves. He will not let you drown.
© Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, October 19, 2015
About the author:
Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 20 years. Her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 39 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma:
Website: www.normagail.org
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2
Book Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173
4 Comments
Definitely needed this TODAY! I’ve suffered with a chronic illness for nearly twenty years, and it always seems that for every two steps forward, I get dragged back two steps – leaving me where I started. When the pain gets intense, my mind goes to the “Why me?” rant – Why must I suffer? What am I missing? What am I supposed to do? Then I feel guilty for having so little faith, and for not realizing that others suffer so much more. I need to spend more time studying God’s promises and praying for others, and take the focus off myself. Thanks, Norma. Peace and Blessings.
Blessings to you also, Felicia! It is a difficult path we walk, but God is there!
Thank you for the reminder of the but Gods. I surely forget at times that those are in the Bible as much as they are and truly truly there are days that I really need Him to show up and do a but God.
I need those reminders too, Serena! I have to approve the comment the first few times before it recognizes them. Thanks for taking time to comment.