Overwhelmed

God, Trials, Trust 0

First Corinthians 10:13 is certainly a promise — but it isn’t talking about trials.  It’s talking about temptation.  The promise is that God will always, always give you the power to say no to sin.  But when it comes to heartaches, physical problems, and disappointments — things out of your control, difficult circumstances suddenly thrust upon you — you may very well be overwhelmed beyond what you can bear.  There is a kind of suffering that rips your world apart and leaves you bewildered and wounded.  There are trials that overwhelm.

I drew a deep breath, showing my friend the context of the promise — and her brow furrowed.  “But take heart,” I told her.  “It’s when we are at the end of our strength . . . that’s when we fall helplessly into the everlasting arms of God.  That’s when God floods our hearts with sustaining grace.”

— Joni Eareckson Tada, Pearls of Great Price, January 31 entry

God’s Guidance

Guidance, Trust 0

Here I am moving from point A to point B to point C — in a fog.  I turn to God and say, “How do I get to point D?”  But God gently replies, “Take my hand and I will lead you out of the fog.”  Then I get stubborn and say, “You didn’t answer my question!”

— Hugh Prather, Spiritual Notes to Myself, p. 10

Get on With Your Life

God, Life, Trust 0

Charlyne and I want you to “get on with your life.”  You do that by loving Jesus more each day, praying more, growing in Him, and trusting God for your every need.  We want you to be confident that God will bring about what He has promised.

— Bob Steinkamp, The Prodigal’s Pen, p. 251-252

A Cock-Eyed Optimist?

Love, Trust 0

“It is far easier, it seems to me, to become a cynic than it is to work beyond disappointments and rise above wounds.  We must be willing to trust again and expect better than we’ve received.  True cynics who believe they have become experts at seeing through people have actually succumbed to a different kind of blindness.  If we want love, it is better to look for the good in people, even if it means being somewhat of a cock-eyed optimist.”

— Leo Buscaglia, Born for Love, p. 81

Detachment Requires Trust

Letting Go, Trust 0

We release our burdens and cares, and give ourselves the freedom to enjoy life in spite of our unsolved problems.  We trust that all is well in spite of the conflicts.  We trust that Someone greater than ourselves knows, has ordained, and cares about what is happening.  We understand that this Someone can do much more to solve the problem than we can.  So we try to stay out of His way and let Him do it.  In time, we know that all is well because we see how the strangest (and sometimes most painful) things work out for the best and for the benefit of everyone.”

— Melody Beattie, Codependent No More, p. 57

God’s Steadfast Love

God, Inspiration, Prayer, Trust 0

“Regardless of whether we feel strong or weak, we remember that our assurance is not based upon our ability to conjure up some special feeling.  Rather, it is built upon a confident assurance in the faithfulness of God.  We focus on his trustworthiness and especially on his steadfast love.”

–Richard J. Foster, Prayer:  Finding the Heart’s True Home, p. 212

Prayer of Healing

God, Inspiration, Prayer, Trust 0

“Second, we ask.  This is the step of faith.  As we come to clearness about what is needed, we invite God’s healing to come.  We speak a definite, straightforward declaration of what is to be.  We do not weaken our request with ifs, ands, or buts.”

–Richard J. Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, p. 211