If You Love Something, Let It Go

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  James 5:16 NASB

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.  Psalms 55:22 NASB

Sunday before this past one, I went to church with my mentor.  The sermon she gave was great and reminded me of the importance of being covered in your armor.  However, what I'm going to share was the sermon outside of the sermon, the importance of surrendering a thing to God. 

At the church we visited, it was Women's Day.  There was an older woman who was the Women's Day committee chair.  Unknown to her, the women of the church, including the First Lady, decided to honor her and had her granddaughter dance, and 4 of her daughters were there in attendance.  The love the church had for this woman and the love and honor the daughters displayed for her was beautiful.  But what stuck out to me was when she got up to speak.  She testified of God's goodness, but what spoke to my heart was how she prayed for her children, raised them in the church, and left them to God.  And as a result, 6 of her 7 children are saved.  Even now, she is still praying for the last child to turn to God. It brings to mind Luke 15--the parable of the Lost Sheep and the parable of the Lost Coin.

She loves her children, as all parents do; as God loves all of us.  Even when we fall short, even when we want to quit, even when we want to turn our backs on Him and even when we do, He still loves us.  As I write this, I am reminded of the Prodigal Son.  I felt like that this week, wanting to quit and drop all these burdens that have been placed on me and go about life my own way.  And God being God, He will let you go, should you desire to go your own way.  But His word will still be in your heart, His promises still on your mind.  And hopefully, one day you will wake up and remember who you are, like the Prodigal son, and return to Him to be reunited to Him.  Now this is not a message to encourage you to stray, but if you have already strayed or are interceding for someone else, leave them to God.  Leave that person that is tugging on your heart strings to God, and like that mother, they will return to Him, because even when it doesn't seem like it, God answer our prayers.

The beauty of both of these situations was how the love of God was apparent.  That mother at the church loved her children and wanted to see them all saved and that father in the parable rejoiced at seeing his wayward son come home; both are evidence of God's never-ending love for us.  So whatever is weighing you down, a relationship, desires of marriage, family, or friendships, let it go.  Let go to God, and trust, in due time, it will return to you, better than before.  Maybe with a different person for a relationship, or a new friendship, but trust God loves you so much that He will give you exactly what you need.

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;  for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:21-24

Fwd: Are You Reflecting Christ?

"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'  Matthew 25:40

     This week has been interesting to say the least.  God has done several things for me:  in my oversleeping today thanks to all this lovely rain, I missed my ride to Atlanta for fellowship with our baby church, but I took the opportunity to go get a bike from the bike auction at school for $65 (altogether $135 for a new inner-tube and a major tune-up, I'm so excited!!).  Before that though, He has clearly shown me in 3 dating scenarios that I don't want to date here in New Orleans and that its best for me to keep waiting as He told me to (be obedient, and WAIT on the man He has for me...-_-) lol.  He also showed me the importance of being covered in the armor of the Spirit because we are battling greater things than we see in the news...and that is a whole separate writing within itself.  But probably the most painful lesson I learned, and it didn't even involve me, was that we have to truly learn to reflect Christ.  I know we are all not perfect, not exactly where He wants us to be, but the world is watching us.

     I don't know about you, but I don't take every opportunity that crosses my way as an opportunity for ministry.  Plenty of times, and it hurts me greatly, I don't give to the poor because I don't have time to stop or I don't have to give.  I don't always smile at everyone I see.  I don't always speak.  And don't let me get on my negligence of some of my family members...hahaha.  I don't call, I don't text, and I don't do what I should.  I recognize now that in many situations I don't reflect Christ.  When I go out and party now, I am a lot more reserved because ultimately I know that everything I do is being watched and being scrutinized.  I very fondly remember a conversation from when I lived in Charleston at how my going out with my friends could be seen as hypocritical. (Now that is another devotion, one I already wrote about, that has two sides...)  

     But anyway, in this situation this week, I was asked legal questions, which I legally and ethically cannot answer and told this lady that cornered me in the restroom at work those very words.  Her situation was with a tenant that had somewhat suspiciously tried to break her lease.  The tenant claimed that the house had been broken into, and decided to move out and wanted to reclaim her $1200 deposit; ironically enough, she moved out prior to the lights being turned out (which under the leasing terms would end her voucher support from HUD).  This woman at work mentioned something in her description of this tenant that unnerved me.  'She claimed to be a Christian.'

     This evoked several ill feelings within me.  First and foremost, we as Christians do not recognize the eyes that watch us.  There are many, believer, nonbeliever, and unbeliever alike, that are searching for a witness in you.  They are searching for a reason to believe in God, when in a Godless world it seems pointless to believe.  They are seeking that same source of joy and peace that is promised to us and sadly, we don't even recognize it.  Our actions and our behaviors reflect the world and not God.  They can influence others to think that our God is not worth the energy and that it may be easier to believe in Allah, Buddha, or themselves because Christians don't even have it together.  

     However, the even sadder part of this situation is that the world judges us just as the Pharisees of Jesus's time judged him and his associates.  They don't realize that God's works within us is a process and for some the changes take more time.  And sadly, many of us 'Christians' are still hurting, still wounded, and still recovering from our own hurts, inflicted upon us by life, our family, other Christians and ourselves.  So we continue the cycle and never get that true experience from God.  We never get that touch from Him that we need.  And who ends up losing out?  The very people that we are called to bear witness to.  Those that need His touch just as much as we do. 

     How do we fix this?  How can we reflect Jesus and His love to a dying, hurting, loveless world?  First we submit to Him.  We let Him transform us.  We let Him open our eyes and show us the ugly parts of ourselves.  We let Him unload the baggage, leaving the burdens we've brought at His feet.  And we forgive.  We apologize.  We walk in love, knowing that hurt people only hurt other people.  And then we embrace them.  We testify of God's goodness and mercy in our lives.  And we keep moving forward, closer to Him, so that our mirrors reflect Him and not our hang ups and hurts.

     After hearing this woman describe another member of our race as 'those people' and someone who claims to be a 'Christian', I prayed.  I prayed for myself, that God forgives my transgressions and missed opportunities at truly reflecting Him to others.  I prayed for that woman, and I prayed for the lady at my job.  I made a mental note to keep my mouth shut about being in law school forever, lol, but I made it my desire to submit to God and allow Him to keep working on me.  If that means I am unrecognizable to my friends and loved ones soon, its worth it.  Because it isn't me that should be seen, its Jesus.  Well, I love you guys...hope this blesses you.  I'm praying for you too, and I love you.

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'  "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'  "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'  Matthew 25:41-45

Wait For Me

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Wait.  As I looked at this scripture I saw wait instead written as trust in the Lord or hope in the Lord. My thoughts are heavy with this.  Why do we not like waiting?  What is it about waiting that seems unbearable?

As I go forward to answer my own question, its the uncertainty of the length of time in that waiting process.  Its the lack of definition of waiting.  Its not knowing what will happen or transpire in that process of waiting.  The key word here is that waiting is a process within itself.  Waiting forces you to not instantly gratify yourself with a cheap imitation instead of waiting and staying in faith.  For example, its like waiting to see your progress when you begin working out.  Waiting seems to give us no benefit, at least not immediate, and because of this, we rather not do it!  We live our lives like microwaves, zapping things into the now instead of appreciating the virtues that manifest as a result of waiting, like patience.  I'm really talking about myself, I want what I want right when I want it! Haha 

I had a problem with waiting that I have given to God to fix.  I told God I wasn't going to wait anymore in a particular situation.  I was not going to wait on what He told me, the promise He had given me because I was tired of waiting.  I was tired and I wanted to take my life into my own hands.  Then I heard almost immediately God say, "Will you wait for Me?"  Even as I type this, I tear up because I now think about this scripture.  In waiting on God, trusting in Him, and hoping in Him, my strength is renewed.  I can keep running the race.  I can keep walking forward along this journey.  Even when friends don't agree or understand or they simply cannot relate, I can wait on Him because regardless of what happens or how or when, God is still God and He has everything concerning me and you already taken care of.  Even if I end up completely alone in this process, I can wait on Him.

You have too much to lose to not wait on God.  We have so much tied up in our purpose, taking a detour or getting ahead of God can cause a lot of heartache.  Don't abort your purpose by choosing self instead of choosing Him.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Galatians 6:9 KJV

Solitary Confinement

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

Luke 11:14

I had an epiphany today; honestly it was like I was delivered.  Its funny how God works.  He takes the seemingly most innocent of situations to shine the light on an area of struggle in our lives.  And strangely enough, as much as I talk, as much as I encourage others, mine was silence.

Growing up and even as an adult, I have struggled to stand up for myself in some situations.  It usually takes me being provoked to places of extreme stress for me to actually 'come clean' with how I feel about something.  I would experience anxiety or feel like I was doing something wrong when I actually spoke up for myself.  I would be reluctant--and people would take advantage of me or hurt me...and all the while I would suffer in silence most times.  

I realize now that the lesson I learned and shared with a friend this summer was a two-fold lesson.  It is okay to speak up for myself...to put my needs first...to take care of me.  For years I have always put everyone but myself first.  I realize now that my silence was bondage.  I was bound by this voice in my head, that how I felt or my views of things was not important.  I even recognize now that the roots of this reach all the way back to my childhood, where I heard constantly, a child is to be seen and not heard.  So even when God would tell me things...one thing in particular I remember, I was told that my adult cousins could protect their marriages and relationships by keeping our family out of their households...more specifically out of their spousal and immediate family communications.  And now as an adult, I see that the words God gave me would have benefitted them all if I had a forum to share them.

I was delivered from this curse of silence, this prison of muteness and suffering and going through things alone last night at my church's communion service, and I realized it today how my thoughts and feelings not being validated or acknowledged locked me in my head with that pain.  So I would keep everything inside until it was boiling over like a tea kettle, burning anyone that came in contact with me.  Fortunately, God has not allowed that to permanently separate me from others or sever the relationships I cherish.  Instead, He showed me there was power in speaking and using my voice for its intended purpose.  I guess that is why I want to be a child advocate and juvenile judge--I want to give those 'children' the voice I never had, the courage to speak up for themselves and expose the ugly truths of their lives, something I felt I could not freely do.

Like the mute man above, Christ has freed me.  Like the mute man, I was quiet and my tongue was bound.  We both suffered in silence and when prodded and forced to speak, it came out in ways that did not reflect our true nature.  My suffering has always been muted and it really made me angry over the years.  I felt like I have always had to carry so much, including my own pain because there seemed to be no one to ever listen to me.  But for some reason God allowed me to endure a difficult 5 years at my job for me to finally see that I have a voice for a reason.  We all have a voice.  We all have a story to tell, a word to share, and a testimony to give.  I have spent so much time listening to other people's story and I have been scared to speak my own truth because it never seemed important enough.

I am comforted now because Jesus saw fit to deliver a demon-possessed man from his earthly prison and to give him back his voice.  And like him, I was released from my prison today and given back my voice to use it for Him.  I thank God for being able to write, but I know now its time for me to start speaking because it is in speaking that those things we desire manifest.  Speak your truth today and be freed!

The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.

Isaiah 35:6

Bridges

Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.  2 Corinthians 1:9

Trust. Submission. Commitment.  We often associate these words with our human relationships (platonic, familial, and romantic).  However these things, as I have learned this weekend, directly relate to our relationship with God.  These things serve as the steel beams, mortar and bricks necessary build the bridges that help us cross over the valleys in our lives.  Over this last year I have had to trust God in ways I have never done.  Moving here and starting school.  Needing to know who was for me or not.  Dealing with direct attacks from the enemy at work.  Wanting to be in a relationship, then get married and have kids.  Dealing with changes in the lives of my friends and family.  Dealing with loneliness and isolation.  Refusing to settle and to stop compromising.  Understanding God's intent for the relationships I have with others and the roles we are to play in each other's lives.  All these different valley experiences...and I have needed bridges to get over these things.  Some of these experiences required me to burn bridges too.  But this has all required me to learn to trust God in a different way.

I had a conversation with a person about trusting others.  I told him, trust is like the concept of innocent until proven guilty.  You give it until the person shows that they don't deserve it, otherwise, every little thing they do will keep you from ever truly connecting with them.  It is much like a baby; after birth, a newborn immediately trusts their mother.  Likewise, we are to immediately trust God and others.  God, however, is the only person that will not do anything to cause you to stop trusting Him.  On the other hand, it is always us--trying to control our lives, not fully submitting things to Him, and not seeking Him first, that causes us to think we cannot trust him.  And today, on the prayer call I dial into daily, she reaffirmed the same things and hit home for me.  And so in essence, I have to trust God, submit everything to Him--even those relationships, my wants, desires, dreams, and gifts--all to Him, and remain committed to His plan.

In middle school or high school, or maybe it was elementary school, I cannot remember for sure.  We had to build a bridge.  Mine was blue and made out of popsicle sticks (I was trying to make it look like steel, lol).  It was a triangular Truss bridge (sad I still remember that) lol.  In the process, I had to research bridges and how they could support different amounts of weight and forces based upon their structure.  And now, with all these things that have been going on lately, I realize that I was trying to build these bridges alone.  I have been holding onto people and things I should have completely released to God...and there were other situations I did not submit to God completely either.  While I have been avidly working towards fulfilling His will, I lacked the commitment to nurturing my personal relationship with God so things got difficult along the way because instead of seeking an intimate relationship with God for myself, I was always asking for something for myself or someone else.  So yes I was trusting Him for an answer, but I was not submitting to His way and plan.  I was still trying to control things, but not cultivating the relationship of trust directly with God.  Sadly now I realize, I was trying to use God without allowing myself to fully get to know Him...which is equal to a shallow, poorly constructed bridge that would not stand after a tornado or hurricane sized storm came through.

Even though I still do not know what the future holds in every area of my life, like when I will finally be released from New Orleans or when I will get married and have kids (so stop asking or don't ask me that! lol), I know that I trust God to build the bridges.  I will do my part and submit to His plan and remain committed to His way, doing those things He leads me to do, but differently this time.  I plan to seek Him, to delight myself in Him, to take that time necessary to sit and listen, to read and just bask in His love for us all.  If you are feeling like me, you do not have to know all the answers for yourself or for anyone else.  Just trust God.  Become friends with Him.  He wants to be an integral part of your life.  He wants you to know Him.  It is only when we get to this level of relationship that we can go through the storms and come out unscathed.  Why?  Because we will be walking with the Father the whole way and responding to His voice and direction.  Allow God to build your bridges and trust Him to walk over them into your destiny.

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Psalm 37:4-5

And the Rooster Crowed

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.'  "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."  But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away."  Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."  Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too. Matthew 26:31-35

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean."  But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."  When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."  And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."  A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away."  Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.  And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.  Matthew 26:69-75

I heard this morning to share my experience recently.  And I was reminded of these words.  About a week ago, I heard the Holy Spirit tell me I was going to do something that I thought I did not want to do.  When you hear things like this, you immediately think of the devil.  I even had a dream about it and prayed, rebuking the enemy away from me and I even tried avoiding the situation.  But over the course of the last few days, something happened within me to give me peace about my looming choice and to remind me of my own humanity--my own fallen state.

As I shared this with some of my friends, I was reminded of Paul in Romans 7 (look at verses 14 through 25)--that the things I want to do I don't do and the things I do not want to do I do.  It reminded me of my own sinful nature.  You see here I cannot blame the enemy for what happened, I had to look at myself because I chose to make a choice about something.  I chose to go forward in that direction.  And looking at this from a wider lens, I was reminded that we all have free will.  Yes temptation will come, but we ultimately have to make the choice to act on these things.  Over the last year, a change has taken place within me, involving forgiveness and much introspection...and in this process, I have truly grown, recognizing my need for God and His love more than ever.  During this time, I have fought with the age-old tactic of the enemy of using condemnation to guilt me into not talking to God after I have fallen short.  This is not a license to sin, but a key reminder of my need to cling to the Father even harder so that He can continue His work within me.  So even now, I do not feel condemned.  This experience sparked a dialogue within myself with the Father, causing me to ask question after question.  As a result, it taught me a great lesson: no matter what we do, God still loves us and like the Prodigal Son, will welcome us with open arms when we return to Him.  God loves those of us who have fallen short, those who have killed people (i.e. Moses, David, and Paul), those who were fearful (i.e. Moses, Elijah, and Timothy), those who were adulterous (i.e David), those who were liars (Joseph), and so many more things.  He used a prostitute (Rahab) and a foreigner (Ruth) to save the Jews.  He even restored Peter--doubting, boastful, denying Peter--as the foundation for the church.  And He will continue to use even me.  I am not perfect.  I have hated peopled, hurt people, and hurt myself.  I am not sinless (honestly, somebody ticks me off on a daily basis and I have told a lie or two or fifty--just joking..not really!!)  

I guess this served to remind me how much God loves me even in my weaknesses and how He is willing to go to such great lengths to show me that there is still more to this journey.  I appreciate it because just as Jesus restored Peter and he went forth to be one of the leaders of the church--God has already restored me.  This is important to those of us who minister and those who are being ministered to because it reminds us of our principal need for the Father.  And just as the rooster crowed for me, and reminded me of what had already been spoken, it saved me from myself and showed me of my need for God.

Long ago the LORD said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.  Jeremiah 31:3

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"  "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."  Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"  He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."  The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.  Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"  John 21:15-19

Don't Take It Personal

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.  Proverbs 17:22

The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?  Proverbs 18:14

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.  Proverbs 15:13

Don't Take It Personal was the debut single by Monica, way back when lol, who happens to be one of my favorite singers of all time.  Now the rest of the lyrics of this song don't relate all that much to what I am going to share here, but its the title that keeps ringing in my head lately because I realized a few days ago that I was taking things that had been happening a little too personally, to the point that my mood, demeanor and outlook all changed.

There have been so many things going on lately in my life and in the lives of my loved ones.  Consequently, these are things that I have taken personally and allowed to affect me in my heart and soul.  These things had me sad and honestly, feeling very broken.  Because the truth of the matter was that I could not fix these things myself.  Control issues surfacing again...Eeeck!!!...I guess I was still trying to fix stuff smh. I had to sit back and let God do His work.  But as I thought over the last few day how these situations had affected me this summer, I realized how personally I had taken them...they put me in a black hole so to speak.  I allowed the negativity that emitted from them to zap my strength, to hurt me, to put me in a place of unpleasantness, and cause me emotional turmoil.  I allowed disagreements, opinions, and attitudes as well as circumstances and situations to affect my energy and how I was feeling.  Finally, I heard God speaking to me repeatedly over the last few days, especially yesterday through the scriptures above on why I should stop the madness already!  LOL!!  I love that He has effortlessly stripped them off my back already and I am quickly returning to my chipper self.

I had crazy thoughts from all of these things.  Because of the relationship woes faced by some of my friends and associates, I temporarily felt I would be doomed to the single life of being alone and needed to find the nearest convent...even to the point that I thought it was best to deny myself the right to living one of my dreams of being married and a mother one day.  I allowed being here in New Orleans alone without close family or many friends to drag me down to the slums where I was having a regular pity party for myself.  I allowed the negative energy caused by the test of my faith at work to drain me to the brink of depression and I allowed other things to nearly ruin my birthday.  I allowed the struggles of others to tug on my heart so much that I would feel sad instantly from hearing of their struggles.  As I think of this now, I recognize that I was being attacked mentally, physically and spiritually by the enemy through these things.  Why and how, you ask? Because I had taken them personally and as a result, I gave him a door of opportunity to infect my mind.  Even worse, like a first time gardener, I nurtured those weeds unknowingly!

Do not get me wrong...we all go through and are comforted by God to in turn provide comfort to others.  Going through is a part of the Christian walk.  We are called to help carry and share the burdens of our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.  However, I have yet to find a place in the Bible that says we are to take these things so personally that we allow the words subsequently planted by the enemy after we open that door to throw us into a conundrum where we then doubt the promises of God for our own lives.  And that is what I was doing.  Taking everything personally, dragging myself down.  My error involved two things: not guarding my heart and not being as vigilant as I should have been over my thoughts.

So as a result, my heart was aching.  And as I took a giant leap back from others to rest and refuel these last few weeks, God has shown me many things and in turn revealed the condition I was suffering from and its source.  Taking things personally breaks our spirits.  Taking things personally basically puts us under the feet of others and causes us to be trampled by their lives and our own lives.  I also just realized it indicates a lack of complete faith and submission to God because we then try to fix these things in our own strength or we allow those seeds to take root in our own minds, causing tares in our garden.  And it isn't others that have to weed your garden--God does it with you being a willing participant!  We cannot allow what others do to us, the things those close to us are facing, the ills of the world, and the drawbacks we face personally to get us so distraught that we drawback from God or we attempt to take fixing the wrongs of life into our own hands.  We are told to place our burdens at the feet of Jesus--don't you know that it includes the burdens of others and every situation we encounter, too?  We have to leave our bitter supervisors and co-workers, unhappy family members, confused friends and in my case, loneliness, and any other issues that arise at the feet of Jesus.  We have to put on that garment of praise and remember that God will get us through this time and also get others through their tough times as long as we are trusting and resting in Him.  We cannot take things so personally that we disconnect from God.  Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength, so if you lack joy--something that no man can take away--you lack strength!

If you would have saw me around the second and third weeks of July...you would have asked me what was wrong.  I had so much on my mind; I was dealing with stuff that wasn't even my own to deal with and as a result, I questioned myself (this is why it is key to go to God for yourself for that clarity, because while others may be able to provide insight, only God can truly reveal the truth, but that is most definitely another devotion, another day for that, lol).  But in submitting these things to God, I have gained a key to the future.  While it is much easier said than done--to not take things personally, that is--the one thing I can always do is pray for God to help me with it.  You can do the same and trust that God has you, your friends and family, and even your coworkers in the palm of His hand.  He will work it out for you!

Heaviness in the heart of man makes him stoop: but a good word makes him glad.  Proverbs 12:25