Have you ever done something and afterwards wished that you could roll the clock back to a minute before it all went down? Because, you're sure that if you had that moment over again you would make a better choice. You know...I had one of those days this past week. I'm not going to go into any of the specifics but I will tell you that I said some things that probably I shouldn't have...
It all started with me making a phone call to say...Hi, happy 4th of July...and to just have conversation. It all ended about an hour later after after many things that shouldn't have been said...were. Because of this I have learned a few things...
The first, and most important thing, was this. When you get turned upside down and don't know what to do...God is still there. We do have to turn to Him though.
Matthew 11:28-29
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
The second thing I learned was this. No matter how much someone needs help, if they don't want it, you can't help them. You can pray for their situation...you can listen to them when they call...you can tell them options that will help them, in a calm voice. But, until they say...I want and accept your help...don't do anything. If you're on the phone, tell them you have to hang up. If it's in person, just excuse yourself and leave. As another bloggie friend of mine said on her blog this week...Shut Up! God spoke to me big time in what she had to say also.
This is how God put it to me when I decided to listen...
I was watching a movie last night and the camera panned out over a river. It was early morning and was showing a place in the river that was calm and quiet. I thought to myself...The water is so still. Immediately this verse popped in my head...
Psalm 46:10a
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I knew He was talking to me...in that moment...through a movie. Since the incident happened it has been hard because it's family and family can be very unforgiving at times. But today, at church, I finally realized that...it will all be okay. Probably not as soon as I would like it to be...but someday. I just need to "be still" and let God fix it.
The third thing I learned was this. No matter how bad you mess things up...how many mistakes you make...God will always be there. He will always forgive you. God is always here...right here...in the midst of all that you are going through. When you think that you are all alone and life just really isn't what you hoped it would be...He won't ever let you go.
There is another scripture I would like to share.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
These two verses are two of my favorites. I have used this in other posts but I'm going to say it again because I need to remember it...Every morning when we get up we get a new 24!
So even though today you might really blow it and you think nothing will ever be okay again...get back up, dust yourself off, ask the Lord to forgive you and try again. Tomorrow is a brand new day!
God will take care of everything, and everyone, if you ask Him too...in His time.
