The Things I Cannot Change

The smell of last night's supper lingers as I fumble out of bed, reminding me that I didn't do the dishes.  Twisting open the blinds I see the remnants of a rainy night, clouds still hanging overhead.  How fitting, I think.

Everything isn't always cupcakes and cookies.  It seems strange to me that in this joyous season of preparing for baby that we would be facing some of the biggest challenges of our marriage, of our adulthood.  When one is in the storms of life, one's own reassurance can only go so far.  "At least we're in this together," I'll say.  "Things could always be worse."  Sentences like that are just band-aids.  They put a cover on the cuts just for a moment, but the cuts are still there.

It's tough to walk around in a glass house.

Do you ever struggle like this?  Vague references aside, if you know how I feel we are kindred.  As Christ-followers, we have a Hope.  We have a responsibility to our Joy and cannot teeter away from it.  We cannot let the enemy creep in and destroy what is rightfully ours, even if the enemy comes dressed in a suit and tie with a cross lapel.  These words from Beth Moore bring comfort: "Our God is FAITHFUL.  We will see.  And until then, we believe.  Hold unswervingly." 

"Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31
If you're in a tough spot like we are, let's fight together.  Put on your armor and move forward.  Know that you are not alone.  Ask for help.  Accept that there are things you cannot change, but there are some things you can still control even in the midst of intense struggle.  I believe the true test of our loyalty to Christ is in how we handle negative situations.  We can scream and curse and throw things if we want [and sometimes, believe me, we need to], but we also need to look for how God is using this situation to bring glory to Himself.  We live in an imperfect world, serving imperfect people.  And guess what?  We're not perfect either!  And we certainly aren't immune to tragedy. 


Let us hold unswervingly as we wait.