My Life's a...
Posted in Daily Focus on Thursday, December 5, 2013
I tried to listen to the deeper message my high school daughter was communicating as she went on about all the terrible things in her life. Her list continued to lengthen until she stopped mid-sentence and said, "My life's just a pain." Most of her issues involved trusting God for future provisions and the challenge of waiting on Him for these unknowns. I could see her faith being stretched, but I was bothered by her ungrateful response to what God had already given her. Couldn't she see all the blessings around her? Didn't she know and appreciate how much we had sacrificed to give her the best education at home?
Just as I started to have a pity party, God stopped me and spoke to my heart. "Dear one," He said. "Don't you know that you complain to me every day? I gave you everything I had when I sacrificed my life on the cross to save you, yet you grumble about this and that and forget the price I paid to call you my child." Wow, God doesn't pull any punches. He was absolutely right! Many times throughout our homeschool years, my actions and words had failed to communicate a loving trust in His provision. Perhaps my own daughter's struggle was simply reflecting my own failings in trusting God. I was doubly convicted of my ungrateful heart.
Together, my daughter and I turned to God's Word. We let the anxious thoughts go as we laid our problems before the Lord. Instead of whining and complaining, we brought our petitions before God with thanksgiving for what He had already given us (Philippians 4:6). God had already blessed us with so much, and He opened our eyes to trust Him for the unknowns that laid ahead.
Are you struggling with the future? Do you feel like you'll never reach any of your dreams? Turn around and look at every blessing He has given you in the past, and you'll be amazed! God has done so much. Can't He do even more? Trust Him to meet your needs today. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
Father, forgive me for doubting Your loving care for me. I know You have everything under control and will reveal Your will to me at the proper time. Help me to defeat the discouraging doubts when they come and cling to You for all I need. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(15 comments)
LYNDA B 12/05/2008 08:00:09
Thanks for this daily focus today. It is so true!! In Jesus name.
LEAH M 12/05/2008 09:35:41
Thank you for this timely devotional. I have been ill for about 11 weeks. The Lord has been working a healing in my body for the last 2 weeks. Thank you for the reminder to "count my blessings" and to continue to trust in him for my healing, which is coming. AMEN!
SUSAN M 12/05/2009 07:57:05
Awesome remarks! And very timely. Many thanks and God bless.
TRULLY M 12/05/2010 05:27:20
I felt blessed by reading today's "daily touch". it is so true, that the struggles we have is repeated until we give it to the Lord and allowing Him to work it for us. we sometimes easy to judge our little ones as they make any decisions. when perhaps they made similar choices as ours. Philippians 4:6, Amen...
HOLLIE H 12/05/2010 08:38:37
How convicted I am by this one! Often I get so caught up in the problem of the moment and forget all of the ways He has already so abundantly blessed our family. Why do I allow myself to worry and whine when I know that He already has it all under control? Guess I am still learning to wait and trust in Him as I try to teach my children to do the same. Thank you!
Dia S 12/05/2010 09:53:27
So true Hollie! There are so many times that I'm teaching my children about morals and character and I feel like I should listen to myself! Teaching our children to be grateful without always wanting more can be an uphill battle is today's world. However, schooling our children at home can give us an "upper hand" so to speak. At the same time I find myself looking in the mirror more often and asking if I'm setting a good example. Am I really doing my best? Some days yes and some days no. Almost halfway through my second year of homeschooling it is becoming clear that I need to lean on God more and more. The days that I'm not a great teacher or example are always the days that I don't rely solely on God for help. If our children learn to look to God instead of that next blessing from God then we've succeeded!
TONI S 12/05/2010 13:36:37
Wow!! That hit me hard. Here I am teaching my son's biblical truths, teaching a bible study, along with all the other random acts of Jesus' work I do and I realized that my anxious thoughts and my downcast spirit at times is over shadowing my walk with christ. Which is not a good witness for my children.
Thank you for reminding me why I'm homeschooling!
DEBBIE C 12/05/2010 19:45:14
A perfect reminder.
SARA I 12/05/2010 21:48:10
Thank you so much for the reminder. I find that almost always when my kids are struggling with something repeatedly, I have to look in the mirror...I love how God speaks to us through our children or others that we are close to. Thank you also for changing the format so we can read it all without an extra click! Thank you for the work you do to encourage us every day! God bless you.
ASHLEY M 12/06/2010 23:18:16
I know GOD lead me to this devotional for a reason. My live took an unexpected turn when my husband who is in the military got orders for us to move to Germany. I so appreciate the reminder to trust HIM with the unseen future and know HE is a GOD of details. I praise GOD for the reminder to look back at how HE has taken care of us in the past to encourage us to continue to trust HIM with our (my) future. I really needed it. I praise GOD for you ladies who write these devotionals. The LORD has used them encourage me a lot.:)
DEBBIE D 12/08/2010 19:24:28
Amen!
MRS. LAURIE W 12/05/2011 03:27:36
Nobody's dreams matter. We draw every breath He gives to us so that we can love Him with all our mind, heart, soul and glorify Him by obeying Him. He warns us if we obey Him, we love Him but if we don't, we don't love Him. We are to always forgive anything any one does to us and love our neighbor as ourselves; love one another; loving God best with all our mind, heart, soul and strength. We need to die to what we want and never worry about our needs because He takes care of all our needs and we can trust that because He will never lie. He said I will never leave you nor abandon you. He said; My sheep hear my voice and know it (His know Him and obey Him) so off with things like "my" plans, hopes, dreams and definitely fears. On with His truth and no one elses. No 'Christ'ian/Churchian army or defense but read what He says and warns about in His Sermon on the Mount and don't pay any attention to the 'other' gospels. Wake up America. Start truly being disciples and "under God".
JD W 12/05/2012 05:06:31
Yes, how limited is our sight, and often so tunnel-visioned. I admit I\'m still in that camp, but I\'m trying to broaden my view by joining with many others at www.aholyexperience.com where Ann Voskamp came up with the idea of 1000 Gifts (see site for more details - doesn\'t cost a thing). Our aim is to keep a list of gifts we see that GOD has given us - to focus on the good, on HIM, on HIS faithfulness instead of ourselves. We post our own on Mondays.
JDW
AUDRA K 12/05/2012 05:37:30
Amen!!
ELIZABETH N 12/06/2012 10:49:35
For Leah W:
I have some large health problems, but through the past 20 years I have trusted Him, try to follow Jesus\'s teaching, and listen to the Holy Spirit. Recently I attended a seminar based on a book by Pastor Henry Wright called \"A More Excellent Way to Be in Health\". I had numb and painful feet for 3 yrs, but by using the methods outlined I can now feel my feet, and my use of prescription painkillers has been reduced by half! Thank you Lord.
The book may be available through the local library, but if you purchase it it includes a DVD. www.beinhealth.com.
May God bless and guide you.