Even if You Don't

These past few months have been a time of adjustment and searching for answers for my family. We have been grateful to have family and friends that have made our adjustment home welcoming. But we still find ourselves searching for how best to serve God and feeling unused at times. I have been working and Justin has been looking for a position but still we are left waiting and sometimes that can be frustrating.

On top of all of this I have been having some things medically going on with myself which have left us in and out of doctor appointments with many tests but no answers yet. One of the possible diagnoses is one that is quite alarming to me. I became obsessed with looking up everything I could about this disease and getting even more anxious. The symptoms continued to add up and I finally got to the point where I broke down to God while praying and asked him for peace. That if this was what he was giving me I had no strength to carry on but I know He knows what is happening and He has a plan but I need peace.

That next day I was updating a friend who had been praying for me and a new friend to me came in and asked who had this disease I was speaking of. I advised her it may be me. Then she proceeded to ask me my symptoms and such. I became visibly upset when describing the symptoms and she noticed. I asked her if she knew anyone with this disease and she stood up, hugged me, and whispered in my ear that she had the disease I was referring to. I immediately felt peace and knew that God had arranged that moment to give me peace. I thanked her and told her this and she shared her story with me and offered support and to be available to me if I had questions.

With all of the unknowns and unanswered prayers in my life right now I cannot tell you how much hope that one answered prayer gave me. She was used by God as a shining light in my life that day. I pray that I can be a shining light of hope to others myself. That no matter what I will continue to cling to hope and know that God is in control.

A song comes to mind that has spoken to my heart here lately. It's called "Even if you don't" by MercyMe. I love the part where it says "I know Your able and I know You can, save through the fire with Your mighty hand. But even if You don't my hope is You alone." "You've been faithful You've been good all my days. Jesus I will cling to You come what may. Cause I know Your able, I know You can." This song reads true to my life right now and so many others going through trials close to me.

These verses speak truth as well:

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

My friends I don't know what you are going through today but can I encourage you that God sees you and cares. I pray that you too see God's hand in even the little things in your journey and that you hold tight to the answered prayers along the way.

Blessings and love today. Till next time.
Crystal

 Us celebrating Independence day recently