Day 75 – When your picture perfect world is falling apart, instead of drawing conclusions, draw your strength from the Lord.
1 Samuel 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 30 – 2 Samuel 1
What is seen isn’t always what is. I’m a very honest person, probably a little to honest….a little blunt. But what I say, I mean, even when it comes to myself. So when I say behind my smile and Joyful Spirit there is an aching and worn-out body, I mean it. It’s a cycle I’ve dealt with for years, and I don’t like to bother anyone with it, including doctors. For a time it was wake up, eat, exhaustion, nausea, eat, nausea, exhaustion! More recently it’s been exhaustion, constant dizziness (like living on a rocking ship), headaches every time I run, and loss of vision. I’ve had faithful friends, a fed up husband, and a protective mom try and help or even get me to the doctor themselves. But I’ve been stubborn and tried to live with it. As I told the doctor recently, I just didn’t have time to deal with it, so I tried to fix it myself, and she laughed and said, “well at least you’re honest.” But in my physical weariness, I go to the Lord for Strength.
My body may never be fully better, I may never have the energy I desire, the doctors may never fully figure out what’s going on, but I will smile. I will be joyful because I pray!
I find, during lent, during days of fasting, He gives me the energy to get up. I give thanks to Him for the sun rising, the birds singing, and life moving forward. I thank Him for His Will being done. Am I better, no, but I have been strengthened.
In the same way He strengthens the trees with beautiful blossoms after a hard Winter or Summer Storm, He will strengthen us. David finds himself among the storms as well. His wives and the families of his people have been taken captive. His followers are angry and after his life, but David seeks the Lord and He is strengthened. In this strength, David is able to save those taken. Sometimes our life is draining, what is seen in the picture may not be what really is. Yet, in these times we can Draw our Strength from the Lord, and the smile on our face can be real in the trial. For The Joy of the Lord is our Strength.
Running 2 Fly 