In Matthew 19, Jesus told the disciples that with God, all things are possible.

I heard a sermon a few years back where the pastor made the comment that what seems impossible to us isn’t even remotely difficult for God.

Whatever you’re facing, remember that the same God made a valley of dry bones into a living, breathing army.

This same God spoke life into a dead servant girl with the words “Talitha cum” — “Little girl, I say to you, get up.”

This same God brought Lazarus back from the dead after being in the tomb for 4 days.

This same God raised Jesus from the grave on Easter Sunday.

Is there anything too difficult for God?

Relax, He’s got this.

I personally can relate much better to the maxim that the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

I myself much prefer cheese to worms.

How dumb would it be to jump off a train because it went through a tunnel and your world got dark for a bit?

Most people know that there’s a light at the end of a train tunnel. Literally. They know if they only sit still for a bit, they will soon be back out into the open blue skies and fresh air.

Maybe if you could see the end to your own metaphorical dark tunnel, you might not be as anxious to bail on the Great Engineer. And by you, I mean all of us, including me at times.

The key to any suffering is knowing that it will end. I’ve found I can endure a lot more if I know for sure that it has an expiration date. Like for those who’s untenable job situation gets better when they turn in that two week notice.

Trust that God knows what He’s doing. Trust that all things like suffering, pain, loss, and evil have an expiration date and an end, but things like God’s mercy, love, and grace are unending.

This Engineer won’t steer you wrong. Ever.

When I am worried and anxious, I will trust in You.

When I am scared and unsure, I will trust in You.

When I’m weary and worn, I will trust in You.

When I am lonely and forsaken, I will trust in You.

When I am happy and content, I will trust in You.

When I am besieged with a million thoughts all at once, I will trust in You.

When I can’t see or feel you, I will trust in You.

When I am at peace with the world, I will trust in You.

No matter what the circumstance or the situation, I will trust in You.

Amen.

I’m taking time to be intentional about thankfulness. It’s easy in the middle of a stressful and trying week to focus only on the negatives, but the power of peace and joy comes through gratitude. Sometimes, gratitude is what unlocks the miracle of seeing God in your circumstances.

1. I’m thankful that it’s Friday. I survived another week intact.
2. I’m thankful for the quarterly Friends of the Library sale where I can browse to my heart’s content (which in this case meant from about 5:15 until 5:30 when the sale ended for the day.
3. I’m thankful for Taco Bell which really hit the spot tonight. I know it’s not the finest dining (and it’s not really even true Mexican), but it is cheap and dependable and good.
4. I’m thankful for the nap I already know I’ll be taking tomorrow at some point.
5. I’m thankful for salvation and for the God whom I routinely take for granted but who never takes me for granted.

There are probably more that I could add, but I’ll end it with one more:

6. I’m thankful for a comfy bed where I will soon be getting a good night’s rest.

I think it was Frederick Buechner who said that because of the resurrection, the worst thing is never the last thing.

If you’re in a rough patch or a dark place, you are not alone and this is not the end of your story.

It may feel like it will never end or change or get better. It may feel like forever.

You might feel alone from others and even at times from God.

What you think and what you feel can lie to you sometimes, so you need to go with what you know, which is that God’s promises always trump your feelings of doubt and loneliness.

Elisabeth Elliot said that God’s story never ends with ashes. It never ends in defeat and sorrow. Weeping may last for a night, but joy is coming with the morning sunrise.

Yep, it’s Wednesday.

Can it be Friday soon?

Between the allergies and the heavy workload and car issues, I’m pooped.

I guess I missed that whole hibernation thing, which kind of stinks because I could use a nice long nap.

I think I’ll just go to bed a little early tonight.

“What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’—could set up on their own as if they had created themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).

When we try to define ourselves by anything other than as beings created in the image of God — whether in our sexuality, prosperity, ancestry, accolades — we will eventually come to a dead end.

Nothing outside of God can truly give us identity. Nothing outside of God can give us meaningful purpose. Nothing.

I thought I’d share this with you, not because I’m overly stressed or anxious beyond the norm, but because many of us have dealt with fear and worry at some point: This is a good prayer for those times:

“Lord Jesus, the stresses in my life often reach a dangerous proportion—or so it seems. My body, mind, and spirit struggle to keep up physically, mentally, and yes, spiritually. Some days anxiety stalks me like a deceitful predator, and the temptation to worry draws me in. I know better, but some days the challenges outweigh the truths buried inside. My trust in You fades into the background, giving fear and concerns permission to discourage me.

In those moments of apprehension, help me remember that I belong to You, and that You are not the author of fear or anxiety, but the giver of love and a sound mind. Teach me Your ways to respond to problems by giving thanks in them. Your Word assures me that You are always there with me. You are the Blessed Controller of all things, and nothing escapes Your attention in my life. You have given me every tool and spiritual blessing to fight against those things that try to steal my peace. You’ve promised that when I’m stressed and burdens are trying to weigh me down, I can come to You. You will give me sweet rest!

Whether the anxiety stems from work, parenting, finances, physical issues, or even world conditions, You are there, Lord, to shoulder the weight. Teach me to recognize the stressful trials as tools for you to shape me and rearrange me. Through those difficult times, You will teach me patience, enlarge my faith, and help me see things I couldn’t see earlier—if I will only let You. When I’m clueless as to what to do, Lord, I want to turn to you first, not last.

Forgive me for trying to handle things on my own, Lord. The need to be in control sometimes gets a stronghold on my life. That only makes things worse. I want to trust You more and see things from Your perspective, not my own. No one makes me feel uptight, angry, or stressed, and no one forces me to react negatively. I choose to respond according to my beliefs. Do I believe You are in control? Do I believe You created all things and hold all things in Your Hand? Do I believe You are truly good? When an anxious thought creeps in, help me to stop and relax, to take that thought captive, and to turn apprehension into a calm prayer for deliverance. Revamp my belief system, Lord. Show me a new way to handle life according to Your Way.

No matter what issues I am dealing with; no matter how big the problems or situations, I’m laying them all at Your feet today. Turn these potentials for stress into lessons for growth and trust. When I can’t see any possible solutions, I choose to believe that You are working things out for my good—in Your own time, as you have in the past. Show me what to do, or what not to do. As I focus on You, remembering Your promises and Your words, I believe You will fill me with a peace that is beyond all understanding

In Your precious name,
Amen” (Jennifer Heeren)

“The heart of salvation is the Cross of Christ. The reason salvation is so easy to obtain is that it cost God so much. The Cross is the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was opened. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God” (Oswald Chambers).

I saw a church sign that said something along the lines of how grace and salvation are free but not cheap.

I always love how Dietrich Bonhoeffer contrasted cheap grace against costly grace:

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”