EFFORT

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--EFFORT

Five minutes to free-write about it

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My fall on December 25th was just the beginning of a storm I never saw coming. It was frustrating but could have been much worse, and there was a whole lot to be thankful for in the midst of it.

People were super kind and helpful, I seemed to be making good progress, and there were many uplifting messages in my daily devotionals that the Lord used to encourage and reassure me. Don't be anxious about tomorrow, they seemed to say. Trust in Me. Live one day at a time. 

It doesn't take too much effort to do that when you see the light at the end of the tunnel. When your faith gets tested, it takes a lot more.

My test came in the form of unexpected dental issues resulting from the fall that surfaced and threw me into a tailspin. Instead of making an effort to keep my eyes on the Lord rather than focus on my fear of what might lie ahead, I had a total meltdown as my mind became flooded by a myriad of "what ifs." I felt as though I was coming apart and as though no matter the effort I put in, nothing would ever be better again. I felt defeated.

A timely call and the wise words and prayers of a friend when she heard my plight got me back on track again. She reminded me that no matter how things look in the natural, God is the God of the impossible, and that even though things were looking grim from my perspective, I can't see the whole picture. Only God can, and I can be rest assured that He is in control.

Additional comfort came through the pages of my favorite devotional, Streams In The Desert,** that speak of Jesus being our shepherd, who walks before us to lead the way. It would not be in our best interest to always remain in one happy and comfortable location (I wish this wasn't the case), but no matter what lies ahead, He encounters it first, and would not ask us to endure it unless He was sure it would not be too strenuous or difficult for us to do.

And just like that, the turmoil gave way to His peace that surpasses understanding, and I found myself wondering what on earth I had felt so worked up about in the first place.

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**(Excerpts from the January 14 and 18 devotionals in Streams In The Desert that spoke to my heart.)

This is the blessed life--not anxious to see far down the road nor overly concerned about the next step, nor eager to choose the path nor weighted down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shepherd, one step at a time.

Dark is the sky! and veiled the unknown morrow! . . . Heart seems to dread what life may hold in store; But I am His--He knows the way I'm taking . . . He goes before . . . On this my heart would dwell! . . . He goes before! And therefore all is well.

The enemy may seem to triumph for a season, but we can trust God will give us a much greater victory than we would have known had He not allowed the enemy seemingly to triumph in the first place.

If there is a great trial in your life today, do not acknowledge it as a defeat. Instead, continue by faith to claim the victory through Him who is able to make you more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).

In all the difficult places God takes us, He is giving us opportunities to exercise our faith.