“IN GOD WE TRUST”

Those were my words to a friend a few minutes ago! This life gets crazy, but I want us all with our focus on God, knowing He is in control of everything and everyone. Wink! Wink! It’s just for us to stay calm, pause, pray, and ask God for His involvement in every move we make. Super tough, let me tell ya, but sticking with God is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS the best way to go, even when He asks us to do difficult things. I love this old post:

“Come to me all you who labor and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, here you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

She (a priest) called our attention to the image of the yoke, a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals such as oxen are joined at the heads or necks for working together. She said she could imagine Jesus (God) already wearing the yoke and inviting us to let Him be our Partner as we bear our burdens together with Him. She said when things get harder (and they will get harder) Jesus (God) would not let his side of the yoke go.

I loved this part so much that I listened to it repeatedly, imagining God and I clasped together with this piece of wood holding our heads together. I especially loved it because now I’m WISELY learning to let God lead the direction we go in, on a moment-by-moment basis. It’s not always easy, and at times it takes serious DISCIPLINE not to be the crazy, drama Nik who wants to make an appearance. But God’s ways always lead me to make the utmost best decisions no matter the tough situation. I never regret following His leading, even when He takes me out of my comfort zone on some treacherous paths.”

Are you going to God in your sad, frustrating, painful, anxious, and other awful moments? Let’s bear all our burdens with Him.”

Like today, in a conversation, I told a bank rep that I actually pray to God for the strength to be patient. It’s not something that comes easy for me, but I’m asking God to help me to be the patient person He would have me to be in dealing with some tough stuff He has put on my plate to handle. I knew it was God who had me at 1:10 in this bank reading page 110 of our family’s website to speak to me:

“I WAS HURT BADLY!!!

This life is FULL of disappointments, let me tell ya! But the way God shows up to comfort and guide me through them makes up for all the letdowns the world may throw my way. Like late last night, He had this to say to me through my meditation book, He and I (written as if He is speaking to me):

“If you only knew what compassion really is—the compassion you must strive to imitate! Overlooking everything to stoop to a heart’s needs, paying no attention to any disappointments or ingratitude, BEING EVEN KINDER TO THOSE WHO HAVE HURT YOU. Just be your Christ for them. If you make this your intention, I’ll be seen in you.”

God knows every thought I think, and He is the only one who knows how I’ve been feeling. So, for this to show up was Him giving me specific directions as to how He would have me moving forward. I simply smiled with Him as He took away all the hurt I’ve been feeling. ‘Yes, Boss. Anything for You. I will let everyone see You in me.’”

I wrote this almost exactly three years ago, and God figured out a way to say to me today, ‘Nik, I don’t only want you to be patient right now, but I want you to BE EVEN KINDER TO THOSE WHO HAVE HURT YOU. Let them see Me in you!’ God is a tough Boss! But again, HIS WAYS ARE ALWAYS BEST!!! Wink! Wink! Obey God and leave the consequences with Him, like Dr. Charles Stanley taught me!

IN GOD WE TRUST