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The other night I was driving home from Bible study and ran into, what to me, was a blizzard. Now let me make this clear, I DO NOT drive in the snow! To say I was massively distressed is an understatement.

This storm came with no warning. I had been checking the weather and it said there may be a few flurries. But let me tell you, this was not just a few flurries. Isn’t that the way life is sometimes? Here I was doing something “good,” going to Bible study, it wasn’t as though I were driving home from something “bad.” However, even when we are cruising along, thinking everything is good, these storms can come. I think they take us more by surprise, because most people expect some sort of repercussions if they are doing things they know they shouldn’t, but most of us have this thinking that if we are being good, only good things should happen to us.

The other thing about this snowstorm I was in, was that it happened in a location that it shouldn’t have. I was driving away from where the snow usually is. I kept driving, because there was little choice as it was 9:30 at night. I continued to expect to get out of the storm by the time I hit certain towns, but it just kept snowing. This is the same for the storms of life, sometimes they happen in areas we would never expect. We may think that we have it completely together in a certain area, we are rock solid. Then an unexpected event happens and our world is rocked, instead of rock solid. I also have a tendency to think that storms should only last so long, but like my experience of the other night, some storms seem to go on and on.

One more thing, if you notice, the first thing I stated, is that I do not drive in the snow. Well guess what? That night I did! I also tend to draw lines in the sand, (or snow!) about what kind of storms I will have in my life. In not so many words, but in my heart, I tell God which areas of my life I WILL NOT have problems in. And just like my snowstorm of the other night, guess which areas of my life He allows storms?

The number one thing to know about difficult times though, is that as followers of Christ we are never alone. No matter how difficult it is to see, no matter that we have no idea how long the problem will last, and no matter that we don’t know the outcome, Jesus has promised that He will never leave us, or forsake us, that He will be with us in every storm.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35

Why is it that so many of our sayings have to do with looking down? We say he is, “keeping his nose to the grindstone.” We tell our kids, “Keep your head down and focus on your work.” Or another one, “Buckle down and get to work!”

We also describe negative things we say to each other in downward terms such as, “put downs,” or “take downs.” We even use low words to talk about our sad feelings: “feeling low,” or “let down.”

All of these things are the exact opposite of how God describes Himself in the Bible. Isn’t that usually the way it is? The world has one way and God’s way is completely different. In Psalm 3:3 it says that God lifts our heads high. In James 4:10 the Bible tells us that if we humble ourselves before the Lord He will lift us up; again, opposite of what the world says, which is, if we are humble, we will be low and walked on. One of my favorite encouraging chapters in the book of Psalms includes the sentence, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:2)

God doesn’t want us going around with our heads hanging down. He wants to lift us up out of whatever we are going through whether it is shame, rejection, discouragement, or a whole other list of possibilities. He is wanting to gently put His hand under our chins, lift our heads and tell us to look at Him. He wants us to, “find delight in the Almighty and look up to God.” Job 22:26

99, 100! As I mentioned a few posts ago, my children are very proud of themselves once they can count all the way to 100. This tendency to number things, keep track, and celebrate milestones starts early and seems to be a normal, human trait. All of this to say that I noticed this is my 100th blog post!

I think we inherit this wish to keep track of things from our Heavenly Father. God Himself is a numbers guy. Right from creation He brings in numbers to keep things orderly: six days of work, one day of rest. In Psalm 90:12, God tells us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Some of the things God keeps track of are far more personal. Did you know that He records every tear that you cry? Psalm 56:8 says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.” How precious to think that the God of the universe cares so much for each of us that He sees and records every tear we cry! But there is more. God also knows how many hairs are on your head. Matthew 10:30 tells us, “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” Sometimes we think that God is distant and removed from our lives. These verses show that He is intimately involved and right there with us even as we sob or have a bad hair day.

I hope all of this encourages you as you move through your days, as you celebrate a milestone of your own, or take time to rest on a Sunday. As you listen to your children or grandchildren practice their counting, I hope it reminds you of God’s counting, and how precious you are to Him. As you take time one evening to enjoy the stars, I pray you will remember that God also knows how many of those there are and that you are far more valuable to Him than all the stars.

“He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” Psalm 147:4

The other evening I was driving through a winding stretch of road.  The road was narrow, and it was also dark.  I found myself worrying that I was going to drive into the oncoming traffic.  I was brought up short in my worries by the thought, “Why would I do that?”  It wasn’t like I was going to all of a sudden steer my vehicle into one heading for me for some unknown reason.  Of course accidents happen, deer run out and people veer to miss them.  But what I was worrying about was that I would literally steer toward those headlights like a giant metal moth.

As preposterous as that sounds, I also worry I will do this in life.  I worry I will somehow fail to see the danger and head straight for disaster.  Not only is this a lack of faith in myself, it is a lack of faith in my Heavenly Father and even a lack of faith in my friends.  I love the verse in Proverbs that says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)  As I learn more and more to trust God, He is showing me His straight paths that keep me from danger.  Even if I were to miss a cue from God, I am also blessed with several truth-speaking friends who would be quick to pull me out of harm’s way!

I don’t know if this is something you struggle with as well, being afraid that you will somehow “miss” God’s direction or warning.  I find a lot of comfort by staying in God’s word, the Bible.  He uses verses to speak very personally, comforting me and guiding me.  I would encourage you to spend some time reading the Bible, asking God to show you what He wants to tell you.  In the hardest times I read Psalms and for very practical guidance, Proverbs.  Really though, God can speak no matter where you find yourself wandering in His word.

I pray that we will worry less and less as we trust God more and allow Him to make our paths straight.  Even on winding mountain roads!

I know we have all heard many times how powerful words are.  Most of the time it seems these sermons or talks focus on the destructive power that misspoken words can have.  However, the opposite is just as true.  Words can have amazing healing strength as well.  They can bolster our confidence.  A well-spoken word from someone can change our entire day.  Most amazingly, words can even have creative ability; after all, everything that exists was actually spoken into existence by God.

As we head into a new year in just a few days, it is a good time to think about words.  What kind of words do we want to speak?  What words are we willing to have spoken to us?  Are we going to allow the words of our thoughts to drag us down and defeat us or are we going to believe God’s word to us?

The beginning of the year is a good time to set goals and think about things we might want to change in our lives or do a little differently.  One of the things I started doing a few years back was picking a word for the year that I felt God wanted me to grow into during the next months.  I found this to be an empowering exercise.  As I would read the Bible during the year, God would show me the word in different verses, and teach me more about the quality the word expressed.  One year a friend gave me a necklace with my word-of-the-year printed on it.  It was such a thoughtful reminder to me as I strove to grow that quality in my life.

In these last few days of the year, I am thinking and praying about my words for 2019.  I want to choose kinder, softer words for my children.  I want to find encouraging words for my friends.  I even want to strive to have kind words in my thoughts for others, as well as myself.  Would you like to join me?  I pray that God will show you a word or two that He has especially picked out for you this year!

Happy New Year!

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”  Proverbs 16:24