January 21, 2019 – Click here to listen
I have a friend who has been following Words for the Day for many years. She legally immigrated here from France and became a United States citizen during the time I’ve known her. Though I’ve never met her or even seen a photo of her I can say that she is one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and is very close to God.
She met a guy who became incarcerated and she faithfully wrote to him, prayed for him, and supported him. During the process she fell deeply in love with him. He eventually got out of prison, but the terms of his parole were that he could not leave the state of Florida and she lived in Texas with her father. She continued to support him from long distance, and only visited him a few times, and though she is not wealthy or nowhere near it she saved her money and bought him a house and several other things. She was sure they would eventually get married and live happily ever after.
The guy initially got involved in a local church and it looked like all was on track, but soon enough he strayed away and started drinking and running around with various women and hanging out with thugs. She sensed something was wrong and without alerting him flew down and caught him in the act and had her heart broken. She was devastated.
She recently wrote to get the address of a woman whom I wrote about in WFTD who is incarcerated, because she wanted to write and encourage her. When I sent it, I asked how she was holding up since she broke up with the love of her life and her answer was an amazing show of faith. She wrote in part:
“I know it can only be GOD helping me through this . . . and I am very THANKFUL and give HIM Praise ALL THE TIME . . .
The life God has given us is too valuable to waste on bad thoughts, revenge, remorse, regrets . . .
All I do is look at the journey I am on with ALL the Blessings attached to it . . .
Here I am, living in America, Best Country in the world . . .
I AM LIVING PROOF THE AMERICAN DREAM STILL EXISTS . . . THROUGH GOD!!!!”
One thing she wrote really stands out to me: The life God has given us is too valuable to waste on bad thoughts, revenge, remorse, regrets . . . All I do is look at the journey I am on with ALL the Blessings attached to it . . .
My friends, that attitude can only come from God. I pray that I can be half as faithful when my time in the valley descends upon me again. Famed intellectual C.S. Lewis wrote:
“I have been in considerable trouble over the present danger of war. Twice in one life — and then to find how little I have grown in fortitude despite my conversion. It has done me a lot of good by making me realize how much of my happiness secretly depended on the tacit assumption of at least tolerable conditions for the body: and I see more clearly, I think, the necessity (if one may so put it) which God is under of allowing us to be afflicted — so few of us will really rest all on Him if He leaves us any other support.”
All we need is God to get us through even when we are afflicted. We simply need to look to Him and rest in Him.
To quote C.S. Lewis again: “Remember, though we struggle against things because we are afraid of them, it is often the other way around — we get afraid because we struggle. Are you struggling, resisting? Don’t you think Our Lord says to you ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Let go. Underneath are the everlasting arms. Let go, I will catch you. Do you trust me so little?”
James 1:6
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.