This post was written for Five Minute Friday
Word prompt--CAPACITY
Five minutes to free-write about it
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Who would have thought these wildflowers on my balcony still had the capacity to keep blooming even when the temperatures have dropped considerably, we've been having frost warnings, and they stopped getting watered after I brought the rest of the plants inside.
I'm guessing there are many of us who don't know what we have the capacity to do until we are faced with the very thing we fear, make it safely to the other side, and "I can't" becomes "I did it.".
Such is what happened to me several years ago as a result of faulty reasoning and a decision driven by fear that led to a far scarier outcome (almost two weeks on a ventilator) that I almost did not pull out of, and that could have been avoided had I not been so afraid. But God was good, and not only spared my life, but He also used the experience to teach me valuable lessons I might not have learned otherwise. (If you are interested in reading about it, you can click on this link to my post entitled Do Not Be Afraid.)
The two things I learned the hard way through this experience were to trust God instead of my own intellect, and to turn my fears over to Jesus and lean on His strength instead of my own whenever I don't feel I have the capacity to handle something I am about to face.
A third thing as well. Life is so much less stressful when I remember to do the above two.
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Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, NLT)
Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (Psalm 55:22, NLT)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7, NLT)
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13, NLT)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)
Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. (Psalm 119:165)
I did indeed go to your link and read your story. You are blessed to even be alive! But it seems that you could not discern what God's leading was, so tried to use your own reasoning. Sometimes we do not get an answer. Phil says that usually means that either we wait, or He wants us to choose ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI see by my comment on your link that I had read it before!! My memory is surely not as good as long ago.
ReplyDeleteI do remember your story and again am thankful God spared you.
ReplyDeleteSuch good verses, and ones I need to be reminded of often.
I do remember your story and again am thankful God spared you.
ReplyDeleteSuch good verses, and ones I need to be reminded of often.