So sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. I was stranded in Chicago because tornadoes kept rolling through the Midwest, making air travel a little dicey (at one point I was standing in the world's longest line at O'Hare, whimpering like Dorothy: "There's no place like home...there's no place like home...")
How are you guys doing 40 Days-wise? Feeling excited? Totally drained? Somewhere in between? I've noticed that "40 Days" seems like a short bit of time from the outside, and impossibly long when I'm in the middle of it. For me, it's kind of like the tornado my friends and I drove through on Saturday night: at times, everything looks dark and hopeless; there's a feeling that I could just spin off the road (in terms of faith, hope, or achieving any sort of dreams in my life) at any minute. But there's also no reasonable place to stop; all I can do is keep driving.
That's today's theme: keep driving. We're going somewhere, which means that we have to get through whatever storms roll in--whether they're literal or figurative, animal, vegetable, or mineral. This isn't much fun. It makes me tense, worried, and a little bit scared as my mind fills with grim "what ifs."
Music helps. And the perfect song when you just have to keep driving is The Bug by Mary Chapin Carpenter:
Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're just a fool in love
Sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger
Sometimes you're the ball
Sometimes it all comes together
Sometimes you're gonna lose it all
Here's to not being the bug :) And in that spirit, I'm putting off our next "tour through a book of the Bible" until tomorrow. For today, let's just focus on this amazing promise the Apostle Paul makes when writing to a bunch of folks in Rome who were trying to figure out questions of faith:
"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
That's US, in case you're wondering. We love God by including him in our lives--as I mentioned before, Jesus is a gentleman; he won't barge in uninvited. And in an interesting twist, the Bible also suggests that the only way people even think to invite him in is if God himself puts the idea in front of us--that's what it means to be "called." So I'd argue that by virtue of our hanging out together on a blog like this, we're the people Paul described, the ones for whom God works ALL things for our good. It will be interesting to see how he pulls this off :)
Here's to covering some serious spiritual miles today, even if it's looking a little dark out there!
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14 comments:
thank you so much for this post. i can't tell you how perfect it is! God truly does know what we need before we even know it :)
I can really relate to today's post. I am the queen of asking "what if" and it only makes me worse in the end. I am in the middle of my own "storm" right now, and having a hard time finding my way out. Its reassuring to know that God has a plan for us. We just need to ask for his help.
last night i was questioning some things in my mind, with the dreaded "what ifs". i was thinking it would be a miracle for things to work out. well i seemed to have forgotten for a moment that God makes miracles happen...i shouldn't doubt him in any way. just keep on a praying... the post today just backed up it all up. so thanks trish.
I'm another one of those "what if" people. Today's post came at a great time for me.
Thanks Trish for this post, it was right on time. I keep wondering am I doing this right? I am praying everyday, but this is what I have always done. After reading this I realized that even though I had been praying before, this 40 days of prayer has caused me to be more in tune with God. And fasting from myspace has kept me more focused on what I am asking God to do in my life without added distractions. But you are right, when you are in the middle of it, it does seem long, and sometimes you feel like everyday your waiting for something to happen.
I think that in times like these we just have to put everything we can into believing God. Trish- I always think back in your book to the moment when you started praying for your husband. You didn't even know who he was, but you had the undying faith that it would happen. That is my inspiration in these times, I am thanking God- knowing that the gifts will come.
I can't believe it's already day 9, I'm feeling really excited & hopeful which is pretty unusual for me.
Welcome back Trish, glad you made it home safely!
It's hard to believe that it's only day nine, it seems like we've been at this longer, and 30 more days seems even longer still. Yet, I'm excited by going through this process. Yes, I'm also plagued by what ifs, what if I get all the way through this and God still hasn't answered my prayer, what if I can't see any change in myself? But I've got to shake that off, and hang on to the verse for today, I want to believe that God works things out for those who believe...that He has truly gathered each of us here right now to make something special happen.
Thanks for this post. This is a really dark time full of doubts and 'what ifs'. I'm learning I have no control. I have to learn not to worry.
Another great faith affirming post. We all need a reminder that we're those people. Glad you're home safe and sound.
The following message greeted me on my desk calendar the other day and thought it appropriate t6o share: "Faith is the silent caretaker of your dreams."
It totally feels like we've been doing this longer than 9 days. So the "Keep Driving" is a helpful reminder. It's easy to get discouraged. Glad you are back!
I'm driving but asking Jesus to take the wheel.
Here I am again behind the game as I seem to be. I am another "what if" person and not only do I manage to concoct endless lists of them my imagination runs away with the craziest and most unlikely worst possible scenarios that I then decide it is up to me to be prepared to fix if they occur.
I've also noticed I am even more likely to go down this road and hit the ensuing roller coaster rides of emotions when I let my focus waver and don't keep myself in the Word on a regular basis.
At this point I need to take a few deep breaths, relax and make time to keep up with regular times of fellowship with my Father - if not daily then at least more often than just the weekend even if I am currently on a full time day job assignment.
See you all on Mon - hopefully for more regular posts and checking in from me.
Melissa
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