Encouragement

There is...
For every hectic work day there is a quiet rest...
For every painful experience there is a healing touch...
For every negative feeling there is an abiding joy...
For every disappointment there is a certain hope...
For every turbulent storm there is a sure foundation...
For every doubting thought there is a calm assurance...
For every hurtful action there is a forgiving love.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
-Roy Lessin

I read the above this morning and it spoke to nearly everything I am struggling with right now. I am still working to figure out the procedure for the rest of my research analysis. This often requires long, tiring days in the lab. Yet, God gives rest. I am still struggling with significantly higher pain levels. It is reassuring to know God knows and He is healing me in His way and in His time. When I feel overwhelmed and discouraged with how nothing seems to be cooperating, God gives joy. When I experience disappointment, God reminds me He has a better plan. When things seem as if they cannot get any worse, God reminds me He is with me. When I am fearful and doubt, He reminds me to trust and rest in Him. No matter how hard things sometimes seem, it always comes back to choosing to focus on God and remember that in all He has a plan and His plan is best. When I literally do not have the strength to do normal things, it reminds me that my sufficiency is in God and He gives all I need for a given situation. In all, He is good beyond comprehension. Why do I ever doubt or fear? It is simpler to just trust in absolute surrender.

1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

New Prayer Request

I would greatly appreciate prayer for the drive to Omaha tomorrow for an appointment at UNMC. I have not driven this far in over a year...and am not doing so well at present. I would also appreciate prayer for wisdom for the physician. All is in God's hands. He is the great Physician and I must rely on Him and not on human resources, while still allowing Him to work through human resources.

Quick update (and additional prayer request): my health (or lack thereof) is continuing to present ongoing challenges. The most recent ones have resulted in quite a bit of testing-all of which has come back normal. This is good! Especially since there was potential for serious issues with some of this. However, we still do not know what really is going on-just that it does not appear to be anything serious even though I am not doing very well at present. I am learning ever more and more of trusting fully in the Lord for strength to make it through each moment. (Significant fatigue and weakness have been increasing over the past few weeks. I literally cannot do normal activities without much more effort than usual.)

There has been a lot of literal crying to the Lord for strength for the next step, next moment, just making it a few more minutes...trying to survive each day-one small piece at a time. I feel as if I am falling ever further behind in everything. For someone who prefers to plan things out, keep things under control, there is no plan and no semblance of control at present. I do not deal well with limitations. Introducing new ones one top of previously existing ones that I had still not fully accepted yet is not going very well. I am trying to take a step back and reevaluate priorities, tasks, responsibilities and what is essential versus what can be cut out until strength and energy levels come back. I am praying for wisdom in this.

Interesting observation: I have been reading in Job lately while reading through the Bible again this year. I can identify with him in so many ways, yet not so much in others. It has been good to pick out the treasures of wisdom and joy even in the midst of great suffering. God is faithful in all He does. There is a purpose in everything. I do not need to understand His purpose, simply accept that He has one and cheerfully submit.

Choosing to rejoice in God's goodness and faithfulness even in the midst of my own weakness!