I trust that we are good enough friends by now, that I can share what's been happening without you rolling your eyes and saying, "My gosh girl get over it by now... it's just a car breakdown for goodness sake." Obviously we all have issues that trip us and knock us flat on our face and sometimes it's the seemingly smallish items that can fling us down the hardest. Two weeks ago, Adrain's car engine blew up. I won't bore you with any more details other than to say we are still solution-less and trying to figure it out while we drive a loaner car and it still feels really big to us right now- this thing, that is making our story, uniquely designed for us. In this time I have questioned what I previously felt that I knew of the character of God in so many ways, and I have been challenged harder in my faith (over a measly little car breakdown and all that it is affecting) than ever before. I could post for a solid week on that journey alone, because it's big and meaty and life changing but we truly would never get to the encouraging part. I cried and cried last night as I poured my raw feelings out to Adrain and he confessed a few different, yet hard things he has been chewing on to me. This storm is pulling at us hard, and I have no idea why, other than the idea that it's meant to refine us and change us for the better in the long run.
The truth is, we will all have to deal with a storm of one kind or another and oftentimes we face one right after another until we've got lungs filled with salt water and our fingers are slipping from the edge of the raft we have been clinging to and we're sure that one more wave is going to be the end of us. One more... and we will go under permanently.
It's a life truth. We will have trouble. But we won't go under permanently. Time and time again, God promises that He will be our shelter, our refuge, our savior, our rock, our comforter, our strength, etc. One I especially love is Psalm 46 1:3 "God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in sea storm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us."
Somehow the storm analogy really struck me. It has felt like a storm and when I read my Girlfriends in God devotional one day last week it encouraged me in this area. Mary Southerland writes, "An old seaman once said, "In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way to survive. We must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there." Richard Fuller commented on the old seaman’s words: “This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may -- winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers -- no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God's faithfulness and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 6:18-19 where it says, "God gave these two things that cannot be changed and God cannot lie. We who have turned to Him can have great comfort knowing that He will do what He has promised. 19 This hope is a safe anchor for our souls. It will never move. This hope goes into the Holiest Place of All behind the curtain of heaven."
Also thank you everyone who voted for my buddy Kelsey- she chose a random winner for her Noonday Giveaway, who is Corrine (Crossnote). (Congratulations and give me a shout at lemonademakinmama@comcast.net to claim your prize and I will get in you in contact with Kelsey!)

beautiful Sasha.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of seeing the beauty that comes out of the pain. Your story is a beautiful friend!! Sweet Jesus is so lovingly and tenderly revealing Himself to you and Adrain. Just like the Father that He is <3 God will get you through this storm and you will marvel at all He has done!! Praying for you my friend <3
ReplyDeleteSuper Cute! Thank you so much for sharing!
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Sasha....... your heartfelt posts are what attract all your readers and you have to keep up with the posts because I promise you in those times when we come to face these situations your blog is such an encouragement for us.... Thank you for that:)
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