God is our Refuge and Strength

I took this picture while standing on our back patio just as Hurricane Irene was moving in.  Truthfully, nothing really amounted of the storm in our area but, we did get some beautiful clouds and cooler winds which were much appreciated.  I truly am in awe of the nature that surrounds me and all that God has created; the changing seasons, the gorgeous plants, animals, raging storms, powerful waterfalls, vast oceans and the diversity of human life.  Our God is great and mighty!

My life has felt very much like a storm for some time now.  Not everyday and not all hours of the day but quite often for well over a year now due to the challenging circumstances relating to my husband's health.  I love sharing with all of you what it is like in this season because I feel like the Lord can encourage others and minister through my transparency but, on the other hand I also want to respect the privacy of our home.  I'm always trying to find the right balance in this...I'm sure a lot of you can relate in the blogging world! lol. 

This past week was especially trying and I definitely had many breaking points of exhaustion mentally and physically.  I had many moments of wanting to run away from life or just to go hide somewhere for a long time.  The fight to hold on to joy became increasingly difficult and my heart was unbearably heavy at times.  I am pretty good at pacing myself and staying positive...just ask my momma (lol) but, I guess the reality is that I am human not Superwoman and thus I too grow weary of weathering the storm.  

Throughout this entire season I have prayed and trusted in the Lord steadfastly.  I haven't become angry at God or doubted that He loves me.  I haven't wondered why this is happening to us or why God isn't fixing everything and making our lives peachy keen again.  I get that life happens and that it rains on us all.  I get that as long as we live here on Earth that hard times and even harder times will inevitably come but, I must give all glory to God fur sustaining me during this storm as I know it is His strength and not my own.  It is often in these very dark and stormy times that God's word can come alive in a new way for us.  So many bible verses have taken on a whole new level of depth and meaning to me and I cling to them, like a ship wrecked passenger would cling to a life saving device.  God's word is powerful! It is true and holy and the promises of God steady my ship and calm the waves that try to overtake me.  

My mom prayed with me this morning over skype.  Thank you God for making us intelligent enough that we could create such a fantastic form of communication! She also reminded me of the promise in God's word about the house that is built on the rock which is Jesus, and that when the waves beat against that rock they could not prevail against it.  God is my rock.  God my refuge.  God is my strength.  God is my help when I am in trouble.  Though the circumstances in our lives can seem overwhelming or unbearable at times, God is our peace and our comforter...if we let Him be.  Sometimes that is the challenge; letting God be God and not reducing Him to our level of rational thinking.  It's easy to chant God's word out without realizing its power but, when we do take hold of the word and of God's promises we truly can remain steady in the storm. 

You may or may not be going through a storm of your own.  If you are in a storm, I pray that you can truly take hold of this verse below.  Take hold of it and don't let it go.  God is your refuge and your strength!  If all is well in your life, sweet! Then I just pray that you are also taking hold of God's promises and that you remember in your next inevitable storm that God is still good even when or if your circumstances aren't, that He loves you and that He will see you through!

If you ever need to share a prayer request with me or if you feel like a storm in your life is over taking you please shoot me an e-mail.  I would love to encourage you and remind you that God will see you through!

And now to lighten up this post I wanted to share a few pictures of my little munchkin that never made it to our blog when she was little.  Gosh, I miss that baby chunk, sweet baby breath and that chubby face smile so much!! 

I just adore this picture of Daddy and Daisy below.  It really melts my heart when I see my little girl laughing and playing with my hubby.  Is there anything sweeter?