Today I am Thankful for God's Promises

I had a hard time coming up with a title for today's blog. I thought about titling it, "Today I am Thankful for the Bible" or "Today I am Thankful for John 16:16". The former felt too vague, the later too narrow. I finally settled on "God's Promises" because it best applies to the experience I want to write about.

Yesterday I was feeling awful, physically and mentally. I was sick and felt like everything that is wrong with me and my life was weighing on me all at once and pushing me deeper and deeper into a dark hole. I left work at noon, went home, and slept all afternoon. I woke up feeling better physically, but just as awful mentally. After moping around for awhile I felt like God started knocking on my heart, saying "Hello! Remember me?!"

Answering his call, I went to my room, got on my knees, and prayed and prayed and prayed. I cried out to God about everything that was weighing on me, all my fears, problems, worries. I laid it at his feet.

One of the heaviest weights on my heart is that I feel trapped in an impossible situation. I want to be a full time wife and mother, selling my art on the side if possible. I want to be a bigger part of my daughter's life. I want to have another baby. I want to take care of my home and my husband. Realistically, right now, we financially cannot make it without my income. Our insurance is through my job, as well. Sure, we could move to a smaller place or a cheaper city, but right now my priority is Mackenzie's well being, and after all the changes she has already had in her short little life, she desperately needs stability and routine. Not to mention we love our little home, friends, church, etc and don't want to move if we can help it.

So that seemingly hopeless issue was the biggest burden I was bringing to the Lord. After praying, I felt prodded to read from God's Word. In times of worry or fear I often turn to the Psalms for a "quick fix", but instead, yesterday, I decided to search for God's wisdom through a different method; one I had used a lot as a young person, but hadn't employed in many years. I held my Bible closed and with my eyes shut, I used my thumb to flip through the pages. When I felt my thumb "grow hot" (that's the only way I know how to describe the feeling. It's like God saying, "Wait! Stop here!") I opened the Bible and read that passage. It was John 16:16-33.
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Sorrow Will Turn to Joy 16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” 17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.” 19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World 25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” 29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
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I felt immediately uplifted and full of hope and peace! God had led me right to a passage that contained words directly from Jesus, speaking to tribulations and God's promise to provide! Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you! Jesus has overcome the world!

God has worked miracles in my life before, why would he not again? God directed me to that particular passage, and through those words that Jesus spoke thousands of years ago, God was making me a promise today, in 2010.

So I'm asking in the name of Jesus, for his glory, that a door is opened, and a miracle is produced in my family, so that I can stay at home with my children.

Thank you, God, for your Word and for your provision and for your promises. Thank you for speaking to my heart the very words I needed to hear!