I challenge you to…

“…let nothing disturb you; let nothing dismay you; all things pass; God never changes. Patience attains all that it strives for. He who has God finds he lacks nothing: God alone suffices.” 
 -St. Teresa of Avila

God tells us so frequently in the Bible and in the writings of the saints that we have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about, and that He is in control. 

Why is it so difficult for us to believe Him sometimes? (If you never have trouble giving all of your fears and worries to God, please call me directly and let me in on your secret! 🙂

Maybe part of the answer is that we often can only envision one positive way that a particular situation could work out. When things get tough, our human eyes can’t begin to imagine the layers and abundance of good that God brings–or redeems–from every situation. 

I suppose that is why we have to have faith. Faith that God is in control, that He has a wonderful plan for our lives, and that He will never leave our side. 

Michael and I have some dear friends going through one of the worst–if not the worst–experience of their lives. Their baby boy was born with serious problems–several still not fully diagnosed. How can I tell them to “let nothing disturb you, let nothing dismay you…” when every day they wonder if their little son will be able to live a healthy, normal life one day? 

One thing that my experience watching this family has taught me is that every day is a gift made of many small blessings. My friends are so humbly grateful every time someone from their community brings a meal to them. They were all smiles the day their baby reached his birth weight again. They beamed when telling me about a funny face their little one had made one day. 

For me, the blessings of my days include my health and my family’s health. The roof over our heads. The food I put (for tastier or for worse) on the table. The fact that Michael and I both have good jobs right now. Hearing Gabriel giggle for the first time. What a blessed life! 

I realize that God doesn’t promise that bad things won’t ever happen to good people–like my friends. Or like me. But it is clear from reading His words to us that He does promise that we’ll never have to go through anything without Him. 

So I will continue to “cast [my] cares upon the Lord, for He cares about [me]” (1 Peter 5:7). 

* * * * * 

Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
 – Joshua 1:9

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.
 – Jeremiah 17:7

I came that you may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance,

    until it overflows.
– John 10:10