I tried to praise out loud last night, but I couldn’t. Pending bad news had me in an anxious ball. I insisted to my husband, “I am not going to fear,” but even so the anxiety had a hold on me. When I went to bed, the thought came to me, “Even if the sun doesn’t shine, I will praise You.” But I couldn’t say it out loud. In my mind I thought, “If Satan hears that, he will test me. I will be like Job.” Of course that was ridiculous! So the Lord kept calling me to speak out boldly and I remembered,
“Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.” (1 Jn 4:4)
I took a deep breath and blurted it out by my bedside, palms up, arms outstretched to the heavens, “Even if the sun no longer shines, I will praise You.” Oooh, that felt good. Victory over fear. Now, that doesn’t mean that “smutty-face” won’t test me or that I won’t get bad news. But it does mean that strength and peace replaced anxiety and fear and that feels good.
I am wondering – Did you join me in watching the sunrise at least 3 x’s this week? I did get up and hoped you were praying with me. And oh, such power! Even in the gloomy light, I recalled, “My mercies are new every morning,” (Lam 3:22-23) and that was a great start to the day.
HOPE in Jesus can be found everywhere. In a new sky, in a baby’s laugh, in a recovery room of a hospital, at the dinner table, and anywhere that gives us an opportunity to say, “Thank you Lord.” As my dear sister Donna Gaines teaches, “Gratitude is the pathway out of anxiety.”
Yes, Donna, it is.
Don’t miss Courageous Women with Claire Culwell on YouTube. Her abortion survivor story of forgiveness, redemption, and wholeness is one you will want to share. And it will give you HOPE in the God Who makes “all things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28)
I am STILL Expecting Amazing,
Diane Strack