Category: Trials

He Knows

All the bitter weary ways
endless striving day by day
you barely have the strength to pray
in the valley low

how hard your fight has been
how deep the pain within
wounds that no one else has seen
hurts too much to show

all the doubt you’re standing in between
And all the weight that brings you to your knees

HE KNOWS, HE KNOWS
EVERY HURT AND EVERY STING
HE HAS WALKED THE SUFFERING
HE KNOWS, HE KNOWS
LET YOUR BURDENS COME UNDONE
LIFT YOUR EYES UP TO THE ONE
WHO KNOWS
HE KNOWS

we may faint and we may sink
feel the pain and near the brink
but the dark begins to shrink
when you find the one who knows

the chains of doubt that held you in between
one by one are starting to break free

every time that you feel forsaken
every time that you feel alone
He is near to the broken hearted
every tear
He knows…

He Knows, by Jeremy Camp

I praise You that the things that happened in my past, both enjoyable and painful, are raw materials for blessings, both in my life and in the lives of others. So I thank you for the specific family (or lack of family) into which I was born and the opportunities You did or did not provide. And thank You for the things in my past that appear to be limitations, hindrances, bad breaks…the wounds of old hurts, the unmet emotional needs, the mistakes or neglect of other people–even their cruelty to me, their abuse.

How comforting to know that in all my distresses You were distressed. And how I thank You, Lord Jesus, that on the cross You bore my griefs and carried my sorrows, as well as my sins…that I can kneel at the cross and worship You as the One who took on Yourself all my pain and experienced it to the full. And how comforting to know that in the present, day by day, You feel with me any pain, confusion, inner bondage, or struggles that stem from my past. Thank You that all these seeming disadvantages are a backdrop for the special, unfolding plan You have in mind for me…”

~ 31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew (Day 11), by Ruth and Warren Myers

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Image Credit: pixabay and Day of Grace

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Image Credit: Empty Arms, Hope-Filled Heart

I Can See a Light

I’ve been feeling pretty depressed the past several days. Yesterday was especially bad. I went up on one of my medications recently, so that could definitely be affecting me…along with other factors. But I was able to go to my therapist appointment today and talk some things out, which was very helpful.

As I was driving home from my appointment I treated myself to a Snicker-doodle latte at Dunkin Donuts (I had a coupon, of course 😉 !) and one of their new croissants/donuts with a chocolate drizzle. It’s amazing how little things like this can lift your spirits! I think that’s one of the things that has been pulling me down lately: I haven’t been taking the time to do the things that I enjoy. I just haven’t felt like doing them! Well, I pretty much haven’t felt like doing anything. But I’ve learned in the past and need to put back into practice the fact that when I don’t feel like taking care of myself, I need to do it anyway–and the enjoyment will come eventually. 🙂

I’m just so thankful for the support of my family and my close friends…and most importantly, for God. Without them and without God, I really don’t think I would make it. I am just in awe of the fact that the Lord doesn’t let me go–doesn’t give up on me, even when I give up on Him, in a sense. He’s so faithful, and I pray that I never forget this!

If you’re feeling down today, take at least a few minutes to do something that you enjoy–even if you don’t feel like it. It may seem like a chore at first, but I hope that the pleasure would come as you push forward through the mud and the muck. And depression IS a pit of mud and muck. You constantly have to crawl out of it. But thank God that we have Him to not only help us crawl out, but to lift us up on all sides and set us on our feet again. May we always remember the times in the past that He has come to our aide, and trust that He will do the same in our current situation, and for everything that we encounter in the future! ❤

Image Credit: Unknown

He Holds the Future

Lord, I praise You for Your sovereignty over the broad events of my life and over the details. With You, nothing is accidental, nothing is incidental, and no experience is wasted. You hold in Your own power my breath of life and all my destiny. And every trial that You allow to happen is a platform on which You reveal Yourself, showing Your love and power, both to me and to others looking on. Thank You that I can move into the future nondefensively, with hands oustretched to whatever lies ahead, for You hold the future and You will always be with me, even to my old age…and through all eternity.

~ from 31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew, Day 5, by Ruth and Warren Myers

Photo credit: Unknown