As I mentioned in my last post, this week I was focusing in on and praying about Jeremiah 29:11: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Repeatedly, there were two words that kept jumping out at me. “I know”. To me those are two of the most comforting words in the Bible. “I know”. God knows. Whatever we are going through we can trust that God knows and has a plan.
Sometimes our lives feel like they are spiraling out of control. We are surrounded by sad news, uncertainty, overwhelming decisions… We may call out to God, shout at Him actually, “Why is this happening? Please, make it stop!” Despite our cries, the answers don’t always come. Anxiety and depression can easily set in. I know when this happens to me personally, I feel as though I have been thrown into a deep dark pit and have no idea how I am going to get out. That is when I need to remind myself of this verse and focus on “I know”. He KNOWS. Like the captain of a ship. We may not know how to navigate the huge vessel through rough waters but we trust the captain does. We must trust God.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. Even pain and suffering. It changes us, makes us grow mentally and, hopefully, spiritually stronger. Why? So that we are able to go out into the world around us and be a light of hope for someone else. This morning in my church’s virtual worship service my friend Vicki sang one of my favorite songs, “Here I Am Lord”. The first verse is “I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save. I, who made the the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?” If we are to be the ones God sends to effectively help those hurting and suffering, don’t we need to know what they are feeling on a personal level?
When I decided I really needed to stop drinking (actually, I had known this for several years but it took me even longer to be ready to make it happen) I found my way to a therapist. I knew nothing about him except that he was the only one in my area who took my insurance and was taking new clients. Well, it just so happened that he was an alcoholic and had been in recovery for 23 years! I have no doubt God sent me to Gil who helped save me and gave me the tools I needed to stay sober. Gil knew exactly how to help and he did so up until his retirement, which happened to be on the date of my one year of sobriety.
God has a plan for each one of us. Trust Him. If that seems impossible to you, please reach out – I’m here. And if you like the idea of focusing on and praying about a particular scripture verse, this week’s is my friend Liz’s favorite: Micah 6:8. “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Love, Melissa
Melissa Pillone Speaks 