Happy Wednesday, Everyone!
Susie Larson here...
Before I get into my topic, I want to mention that I will be giving away a $10.00 Caribou gift card to one of you in January. Like coffee, smoothies, green tea? Post a time or two this month and share what God is doing in your life! Your name might be drawn for a sweet treat!
Ever had one of these days?
Your email inbox is bursting at the seams and yet your computer keeps bumping you off the internet. You have laundry spilling over the basket and piles of paper work to sort through. Instead of feeling on top of your circumstances, you feel buried beneath them.
Am I the only one who gets this way?
On Sunday I returned from speaking at a women's retreat and we had a fabulous time together. On Monday I woke up to my bursting-at-the seams inbox, my billowing pile of laundry, and a sink full of dishes. I also had a very important conference call. In fact I had back-to-back conference calls.
Determining to take one part of my day at a time, I tried to put a dent in each of my piles of work. When it came time for my conference calls, I pulled my appropriate files and brought my laptop and phone up to my bedroom. I had my files spread out on my bed, my phone in hand (and a back up in case the battery died).
I even cut out of the my first conference call meeting a few minutes early so I could get to my next call - the one I'd been anticipating and anxious for.
I missed the conference call by an hour.
Apparently I had my time zones confused.
Ugh.
I woke up that morning exhausted but determined to make the most of my very busy day and yet I still fell miserably short.
Does that ever happen to you?
Well, I have some good news.
Psalm 103:17-19 says,
"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children - with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. The Lord has established His throne in Heaven and His Kingdom rules over all."
and again from Psalms, this time chapter 102, verses 27-28,
"But You remain the same, and your years will never end. The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."
What beautiful promises we have here!
Though I waver...
He is steady and strong.
Though I forget...
He is mindful of all things.
Though I fall short...
He goes the distance for me.
That He is so infinitely powerful and yet so tender and loving, is something I will never fully understand, but will always treasure.
At the end of the day, it is good to look over our shoulder, acknowledge our missteps, and then look up.
With simple trust and a believing heart, we can enjoy peace in spite of ourselves.
I mentioned this before but one of my favorite quotes comes from Graham Cooke. He once wrote, "God is not disillusioned with you. He never had any illusions about you in the first place."
He knows our frame.
He knows our capacity for weakness, failure, and even for greatness.
He is intimately acquainted with our needs and He even redeems our mistakes.
We have every reason for faith. We have every reason to trust Him.
Like I mentioned last week, fear is the weakness. Doubt is the weakness. Worry is the weakness.
But those who trust Him will not be put to shame.
"Those who know Your Name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You" (Psalm 9:10).
When my kids were growing up, I repeatedly said to them, "Do your best, and leave the rest." The knew that "leaving the rest" meant leaving what they could not carry, in God's hands.
Of course if we are lazy, irresponsible, or consistently unprepared, that's a problem. It's not like we can kick back and "trust" that God will encourage such behavior by covering for us.
But, when we sincerely love Him, and thus, take serious our call to be faithful to the things to which He has called us, we must also know that He's made room for our humanity.
When we carry our day-share, we can know and trust that He carries us.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Have joy and trust Him today.