1) It's unfair to assume what people think.
On Christmas day our family went to a Christmas Dinner the community put on for lonely people. I was going to play the piano afterwards while we sang Christmas carols. Usually that would be easy for me to do, but since I wasn't feeling good and there was a huge roomful of people, it really stressed me out. I ended up telling my husband in tears that I couldn't do it, and I went home. Thankfully there was someone else there who could do it for me. But it really made me feel pathetic. I had to learn that just because I feel pathetic doesn't mean my husband or anyone else thinks I'm pathetic. If my husband is feeling unwell, I don't think he's pathetic, I help him out. So I shouldn't assume what he thinks.
2)Hope in life AND death.
When I first went up to ED after nearly passing out while driving, I was waiting in the waiting room. I was so dizzy I couldn't stand up and I didn't know what was wrong with me. I felt so awful and it really scared me. I don't know if it was something serious or not. This verse came to mind and it encouraged me "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." 1 Corinthians 15:19 God is the source of hope in my life, and I couldn't live without Him. If He is my hope in life, then how much more is He my hope in death?
3)God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.
This is a verse that helped me through a very busy week before Christmas. We had a lot of things going on that I needed to help with, and I wasn't really up to it! I quoted this verse many times "My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9 When we are totally dependant on God, He shows us His strength and all the glory is His.
4)Floating by faith or sinking by struggles.
This is a quote I read which encouraged and challenged me.
"We are sinking by our struggles when we might float by faith." We need to have faith in God and His promises. Faith can keep us from drowning in despair.
5)My worth has nothing to do with how much I accomplish.
I really had to slow down and do less. But somehow I feel more useful when I accomplish more. I had to remind myself that how much I get done has nothing to do with my value. A little baby sleeping and feeding all day is worth just as much as a busy adult. There is a difference between being lazy and needing to rest.
6)God is always with me.
Because I slowed down so much, I didn't see people as often. Also, because of my dizziness I couldn't stand and talk to people at church or other places. For the first time in a very long time, I started to feel a bit lonely. But I had to remember, that although there are times when we can't be with people, God is always with me. There is nothing that can separate us from Him. Even though we don't always feel His presence, He is always there.
7)My joy comes from Jesus.
A quote from the Warroom movie "My joy doesn't come from my friends, it doesn't come from my job, it doesn't even come from my husband. My joy is found in Jesus,..."
I could add "my joy doesn't come from my health." Although it may be a little harder when I'm not feeling well, I don't need to be healthy to have joy.
If you are going through a hard time, be encouraged! It is in our hard times that we learn the most.
No comments:
Post a Comment