The week started just fine. Balmy weather, almost 80, shorts, trees to climb, not too much school to darken the horizon. For a time, I was happy. Sigh. Then, it began to snow. And my world came crashing down around my ears. For three long, sad, days I was cooped up inside a cage of drywall and siding, struggling against a tide of dishes, laundry, and Algebra, stretching out to the light with all my strength.
OK. I'm definitely being melodramatic. I know I have something that makes housecleaning and Algebra little ants to be squished ruthlessly. I have assurance that my life will be joyful, loved, and protected. I had nothing to complain of. But it was all I could do to not fall on my bed and sob. Well, that's exactly what I ended up doing. After I had sniffled and wept my way through half a box of tissues, I finished my email to a friend. The message she sent back was, well, a lifeline to a drowning girl. (If I'm going to be melodramatic, might as well commit to it.) What she sent me was a list of God's truths, with bible verses to support them. And guess what. I started to feel better. Yes, God was there, I was not caught in a horrible pit of lightening sand straight from the bowels of the Fire Swamp, and I was ready to ask forgiveness. That's one wonderful thing I've learned about God. He doesn't wait to give forgiveness. You ask, you receive, praise God.
I have a bit of advice. I've learned, slowly, that the best way to stay attached to God is to repeat to yourself His word. Here's what Martin Luther said on the subject: "If you grasp hold of God's Word in your heart and cling to it with faith, the devil cannot win. He has to flee. If you can say, "My God has said this, and I can stand upon it," you will find that the devil will quickly leave." And guess what. It works. When you find yourself in a situation of temptation, or doubt, or fear, start repeating God's promises. It's a lifeline to a drowning Christian.
My week went from good, to bad, to oh, help! I learned something very, very important, though. Funny how all my bad situations seem to end up good.
Romans 8: 28
And we know that for those who love God all things to work together for good, for those who are called according to his purposes.
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