I'm Okay!

I struggle.  I know, news to many of you....LOL  The nagging question is always there, "am I going the right way?"  My deepest doubt and sorrow is that I have a dark future, one with joyless sameness, like all the problems of today will continue and  there is nothing good going to happen.

Last weeks reading in "Jesus Calling"  said this:  "Secret things belong to the Lord and future things are secret things.  When you try to figure out the future, you are grasping at things that are mine. This, like all forms of worry is an act of rebellion and doubting My promises to care for you."

Gulp.  Rebellion!!  I'm in rebellion when I  doubt His plan for a good future.  When I look forward in mistrust, and hopelessness I am, in essence, calling Jesus a liar.  Oh my!!!  Did not God Himself say, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)  Yet I choose to ignore this.  I choose to see and believe there is no hope.

Some visits from the Lord bring joy, bring encouragement.  Some bring correction.  And this was one of those.  But even in His correction, He is tender.  There was no condemnation here, only enlightenment.  And this message did not stop there.  After the correction, come the encouragement.

A few days go by, this messages slips from my mind...not doubting mind you, just getting caught up in the busyness of life, and two lines jump out at me from two separate readings: "You are on the right path."  And, "I love you for who you are, not what you do."

I absolutely love the way the Lord weaves these visits together, over days, over weeks and months....I think most of us have heard of the story of our lives being like a tapestry...we only see the threads hanging down, some dark, some light,.It looks quite the mess.  All the while God is working on a beautiful picture which will only be clear when we see it from the other side in Heaven.  And that is what this feels like.  Like He is weaving together all these visits, all His encouragement and correction to form a complete picture in my heart.  Individually these instances are great...but when woven together, they form a strong promise to hold onto.  A comfort to remain in.

Thank You Lord for the way You discipline and teach.  Thank You for the masterpiece You are creating in each of our lives.  Help me, us, to trust and believe the best, believe with a good hope.

Psalm 32:8  The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you."