The Smallest Thing Can Make All the Difference

Revelation through a Stranger

"You worry a lot, don't you?", said the homeless gentleman to me as he looked me in the eyes. "Why do you say that?", I responded. "Well, I can see it in your eyes. I can see it in your face. What are you so worried about?" This was the start of a very interesting conversation I had with one of the gentlemen at the homeless winter shelter this evening. It's amazing what a stranger can tell about you without even knowing your background or what you are going through in your life. He could just see it in my eyes.....in my face. Wow. Well, he is right. I am so stressed and overwhelmed with life right now that even a stranger can see it on my face. He and I continued the conversation which lead us to Matthew 6:25-34,

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

A homeless man, who spends each day and night not knowing where his next meal will come from or where he will lay his head to rest that evening, was telling me not to worry. That put life in a new perspective for me. I am blessed with so much - a roof over my head, nourishment for my body, a loving family and supporting friends, and a relationship with the Lord which surpasses it all. Why do I spend so much of my day worrying about the things that I either can't control or should have faith and trust that the Lord has it in His hands? This is a hard lesson to learn - to relinquish the control of my life to someone other than ME. But isn't that what we are called to do when we become saved and declare Jesus as our Lord and Savior? I need to stop trying to do His job and trust that He will take care of me.

I just love how the Lord sends messages to us in whatever form and through whomever He sees fit, even if it might be through a homeless stranger. Keep your eyes open - He may be trying to speak to you through an avenue where you least expect it.

Struck Down but not Destroyed...

I just got home from a very long day at work. It was one of those days where you just want to raise your hands up in the air and yell, "I give up!" I am so tired....no, exhausted is more like it. I feel a little lost on the inside. I'm trying to stand up for what I believe and to not give in to the world. Everyday I am faced with things that are truly challenging me and draining me. My relationships are strained, my job is stressful, and I have the world breathing down my neck. I have just gotten to a point where I want to run away and leave my troubles behind. But we are called to stand firm in Christ when we are weak and let Him be our strength. These verses came to my mind this evening...

2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

I love scripture when it speaks such truth and encouragement. We are told that as Christians, we are going to be pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But the Lord promises that we WILL NOT BE DESTROYED and WILL NOT BE ABANDONED. I need to remember that as I go through hard days at work like today where I feel like I can't take anymore. The Lord will not abandon me and I just have to press on. Everything I am dealing with here on this earth is just a momentary glimpse of the eternity I will be spending in Heaven. To get through each day though, I really need to start asking the Lord for more patience and strength...