( ‘Her First Born’ by Robert Reid, Brooklyn Museum)
I found myself softly crying yesterday as I was peeling potatoes. I was alone. Everyone was busy with Saturday’s work and out of the house, and yet I had to make lunch, dinner, and a meal for our church fellowship Sunday and also get specific yard work done all before 8PM. Plainly, I was feeling sorry for myself.
What had started the tears was that the potatoes were green and needed peeling! To top it off, the deer had been eating on the fruit trees we just pruned, and I was worried about my daughter driving home from visiting my Mum in assisted care.
Then I started thinking about losing the twin of our oldest son 21 years ago! That was the last straw…the tears just flowed. It seemed so hard to wait until I could be home with the Lord and see this precious one and our other ‘suddenly taken’ babes.
BUT, I heard from the LORD there at the sink! These amazing words from Psalm 40: 3 came to me as clearly as if whispered in my ear: “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” They were set to music in my head. I used to rock and sing these words in song to our babies and my husband every night at bedtime. Oh, thank you, Lord for your precious living Word!
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” ~ Psalm 119: 11
It was as if my eyes were re-opened. I looked down at the green, partially-peeled potato and thanked the LORD for the potato peeler. I praised Him for the potatoes and for a meal to serve my family. I cried some more, now tears of joy! I thanked Him for clean water, hands, gardens, a husband faithfully at home already working on his projects, and trees that might someday bear fruit.
I even had the presence of mind to take a photo of that green potato that started all the commotion. Really, it wasn’t the potato at all, but a heart burdened with the worries of today and a lack of faith. As Jesus said to the disciples the storm-tossed boat, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”
Whether it is hormonal, being over-tired, the little things piling up, or a lack of faith that our sovereign Lord can see us through real trials, we must choose to put out trust in Jesus Christ.
That’s the secret to life: to trust God alone.
When you know that promise way down deep in our hearts, it pushes away fear and worry. It’s His sweet voice saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.
“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob…the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.” ~Psalm 146: 5-9
(Please see the link-ups for the week in my sidebar…thank you!)
~ Jacqueline
Thank you so much for sharing this…it greatly encouraged me this morning! Holly
Thank you, Jacqueline, for this perfect Monday-morning reminder! “May Jesus Christ be praised,” as we “rejoice and be glad” in this day He has made!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful, encouraging post. It’s so easy to let our eyes wander from the blessings we have to the things that hurt or worry us and then from there it can be a fast downward spiral. But God is faithful and when we have His Word in our hearts He uses it to strengthen, comfort and renew us.
Hope you have a blessed day. *hugs* ♥
Sometimes we don’t even know why we are “downcast”–just like the Psalmist expressed, but thank the Lord—He reminds us of our need for Him in those times.
Blessings,
Rhonda
Thanks so much for sharing this, Jacqueline…I had a emotionally rough day yesterday as well, and it’s so uplifting to hear your story, and realize that we are all sisters here on earth together, learning through good times and bad, how to fully trust Christ.
That was a comfort that I can use lately:) Thanks
Thank you for this–I had a similar experience. Some of those things, though, are so close to our hearts that it does not take much to remind us of the empty places only we can see in our families. Much love to you, and thanks for the heart reminder.
~Heather @theWelcomingHouse Blog
Lindo Jaqueline! Só Deus pode consolar nossos corações nesses momentos de sobrecarga. Eu estou passando por momentos assim. Minha mãe doente, acamada a 4 meses, minha irmã passou por cirurgia. Passei o dia de ontem entre hospital e em casa de minha mãe. Tenho que dar atenção ao meu esposo, que Deus tem dado muita paciência nestes momentos. Não bastasse tudo isso, aconteceu algo muito triste sábado. Foi desesperador. Senti meu mundo cair em minha cabeça. Mas Deus por sua bondade está resolvendo tudo, milagrosamente. Se cremos em Deus realmente, precisamos deixá-LO agir sem questioná-LO. Aprendi muito lendo seu posto. Louvá-LO é o segredo. Abraços na PAZ DO SENHOR minha amiga querida.
Beautiful Jacqueline! Only God can comfort our hearts in these times of overload. I’m going through times like this. My mother sick in bed at 4 months, my sister went through surgery. I spent the day yesterday between hospital and home of my mother. I have to pay attention to my husband, that God has given a lot of patience at this time. All this were not enough, something very sad happened Saturday. It was hopeless. I felt my world falling on my head. But God for his goodness is working it all miraculously. If you truly believe in God, we must let Him act without questioning Him. I learned a lot reading your post. Praise Him is the secret. Hugs in PEACE OF THE LORD my dear friend.
Miriam, I am praying now!! I will praise Him with you, my friend
Blessings!
I am so sorry for your loss. The heart does not tell time the way the years do. Thank you for sharing the beauty of a mother’s love. I just came across your blog, and I look forward to learning from you!
Blessings, Michelle
Thank you, Michelle, for your kind words. I have never thought of it the way you said it:: “The heart does not tell time the way the years do”. …so poignant, and so true! Thank you for caring enough to tell me.
Amen, Jacqueline! I love how God is big enough to carry our heart-aches, but more than that, He WANTS TO carry them! And the burden He gives to us is so much lighter and allows us to sing and rejoice in Him. Thanks for sharing this at Handful of Heart this week.