“We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Sounds like such a simple verse. “We live by faith not by sight” . . . But do we?
I know that I try; I want to say that I am walking in faith but then I start to think.
Those last test results weren’t very good, there are a lot of things that are affected right now, it is getting harder to use my arm and walking can be an issue some days. Of course it is my right arm and I am right handed. What am I going to do if my arm stays like this and everything is more difficult? Walking is getting harder: what am I going to do if it stays this way? I am not ready to quit driving, or to use a wheelchair, or have to have help for the simple things.
It can go on and on as I think about what the ramifications of this latest episode with my MS could mean. Then I hear God’s voice saying Trust Me. I am in control. I will take care of you. You don’t have to worry about what will come. Just think about today, walk with me through this day. Then we will face tomorrow when it comes.
I am reminded God is with me, I have nothing to fear; He loves me so much He sent His angels to be with me to keep me from harm. That is when I can let out a big sigh and relax in the arms of Jesus. I don’t know what the future holds, none of us do. But I do know who holds the future, and I know that He is with me as long as I walk through each day in faith.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for being there. Thank You for taking away not only the fear that I feel when I think about the what ifs, but for removing the thoughts completely. For keeping me from thinking about the what ifs and keeping my mind focused on You. When I focus on You I have a sense of peace and no fear because I know You are in control. Thank You for letting me rest in Your arms help me let others see You at work in my life and give them a sense of hope and peace also.
About the author:
Linda Aufrance lives in Arizona with her husband of 37 years. She has 2 grown children and 3 beautiful grandchildren. She lives daily with the struggles of multiple sclerosis, lupus, and diabetes, but rests in the assurance that God is in control and tries to share His love with those she comes in contact with.
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Have you faced a difficult time where when you looked at the situation you felt no hope, but then you left it with God and walked through it by faith with Him by your side?
This spoke to me and my mood today. I had surgery in January and just when I think my recovery is coming along well, I have a few bad days and I start to wonder will I ever recover from this to be able to return to work and enjoy hiking, travel, gardening and all the things I love to do. Add into the equation lupus, UC and the usual change of season flares I struggle to maintain a positive attitude. Acts 17:26 reminds me that God has ordained my times and boundaries and in him I live, move and have my being. So today I choose to rest in my loving father God who knows and cares for me.
Linda, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. This message about “living in the present” has come my way a few times this week so I know that I need to listen up! Now you land on this point, too.
I can relate to how you share. One thing can get my mind going in the blink of a thought. Oh – it catches me so often and off I go. God is not ahead of me ( although He does know the future ) but too often, I race ahead of him mentally and then am one knot of confusion.
Thank you for the reminder to stop, be present with Him in the “now” – trusting Him now and for the days that are to come. Amen.
Oh – surely needed this reminder.
Bless you!
Lynn
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and life. You have a lot of ailments to deal with. It’s certainly not surprising that when our body chemistry is confused, we will have emotions: fear, stress. It’s not as if we’re “faulty Christians” who fail to measure up to God’s expectations. But rather, we are experiencing the natural consequences of being “poisoned” with the wrong chemicals. Sometimes we just need to forgive ourselves for not coping with pain better — for not being “more spiritual” than we know how to be. (And sometimes we just need to take a nap and let God minister to us.)
But it’s also good and wise to keep turning things over to him. Not to belittle ourselves for our fears and inability to trust, but to make a choice to ask for his help. I can’t even have “faith” without him providing it. But thankfully, he does promise to provide us with “God’s faith,” not with working harder to try to work with our own little faith. I’m thankful that God knows our flesh is dust, he knows our emotions are hard to control — and in spite of everything, he IS still in control. He’s not frightened or surprised by the circumstances that come our way. And he knows what to do next.
“His presence within us means that God really will give us all he has promised us, and the Spirit’s seal upon us means that God has already purchased us, and God guarantees to bring us to himself.” (fm Eph ch 1, TLB)
The Lord bless and strengthen you today. Isn’t it wonderful how much grace and favor he gives us? And how he blesses us and works within us even when we don’t know if we can keep going? I pray in Jesus Christ’s incomparable name that he WILL keep you going, he WILL draw you along the right path, and deliver you from the evil one.