It’s been a tough week. And we’re only few days into it.
My father is in a hospital in Philadelphia, and I’m 1200 miles away in West Palm Beach. And it’s hard. And I feel helpless and a little scared. He’s showing signs of improvement, and I’ll be there in 2 days, but it’s still…hard.
Life is hard. It always will be. So I take a deep breath, and look for the promises I know are true.
“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
Rock
Fortress
Deliverer
Strength
Shield
Horn
Stronghold
Those are powerful words. Words that remind me where to turn when I don’t feel so powerful, when I’m feeling helpless, when things start to feel a little shaky.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress. What better place is there to be?
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalm 62:2
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him will I trust”. Psalm 91:2
The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for the war and my fingers for the battle – my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge. Psalm 144:1-2
Anticipatience 
I read this post because of its title, “Rock.” I knew the post would refer to the unfaulty and mighty attributes of the Lord which I so desperately needed to be reminded of at this time. I won’t say that what I was dealing with (which had to do with relational matters of the heart) compares to what you’re going through with your father (which by the way, b/c it says in the Word, “by His stripes we are healed,” I know your father IS healed in the name of the Lord). But, it has been such a difficult and painstaking month and a half for me that I hadn’t been motivated to do much more than I needed to do. I even took some “mental days” off from work for lack of energy and willpower. Honestly, I have been preoccupied with “self” and all the things I have yet to attain. Nearing another milestone birthday has not made matters any better for this trial period in my life. I have decided however, and this has required relentless self-monitoring, to stay in contact with God. Despite not understanding the rationale behind why things occur the way they do or even without having a solid strategy on how to turn things around, I will remain in constant communication with the Lord on my present feelings, concerns, frustrations and all the other stuff I often think He is ignoring. I know He isn’t and whatever the circumstance, for which we often do not have control over, He does hear His children and He does care. Faith… oh that “grasping at the air” and seemingly blindfolded approach to our beliefs…is not to be dismissed but kicked into our thoughts, our hearts and our declarations. HOlding on to what we are believing in—health for our loved ones, the pairing with a mate, the release of financial entanglements—is the key and must be adhered to DESPITE how we feel or what we see or what others tell us. I am learning it and working it out, with tears, sobbing, and bent over as if I had a bad tummy ache, all to express the confidence I have in His Word. It’s hard to master, but then again, what in this world, worth having isn’t? Thanks for praying for the strength of the Lord to remain in me as I process the challenges in my life. Know that I, your Sister in Christ, am praying for you and your loved ones and am expecting a praise report soon! Stay blessed!
Thank you so much for your honesty, CaSandra! God knows our wrestling with Him and His ways, and I believe that He cheers us on as we work it out. Sometimes it’s not so hard, and other times, like the ones that you are experiencing now, are much more intense. Birthdays and delays and frustrations can be the things that make us stumble off the path of faith. But they are also opportunities to stand firm and say, “YET will I trust Him”! Thank you for your prayers. My father is doing much better and is expected to come home from the hospital this week! God is so faithful. I am praying for you, my friend. Here is a verse I give to you today: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13). You ARE brave and strong! Hang in there!