JD of Washington
Sharing
the goodness of God
And
His Special Grace
I believe that God
has already made “provision” for everything that we will ever need in our life.
Isa 46 says that He “knows the end from the beginning” – It also
says that He “is
God – and He does what every He wants!” Job
23:13-14 delivers the same message – and I love it!! What a place of rest and
trust those Scriptures offer to His kids.
Isaiah 46 (NLT) also says…
“I have cared for you since you were born.
Yes, I carried you before you were born.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.”
“My times O Lord are in Your hands!” (Psalm 31:15)
What a perfect place to rest!!
When we are growing up – we have all kinds of
“dreams” and “visions” for our life… many little boys want to grow up to be a “fireman”
or a “policeman” – some want to be a “preacher” or “teacher.” Sadly, many little girls grow up looking for
a “Cinderella life” – with a “knight in shining armor”. Well, I didn’t really have the typical “Cinderella
syndrome” but did have a picture of what my life would be about, as an adult,
and just like thousands of others – it didn’t happen!!
My husband was a carpenter, and his big-dream
was to build our home; it was also our dream to fill that large home with
children to love. We were married less
than a year, when my wonderful teddy-bear husband became very ill, and our dreams
and hopes came to an abrupt end. More often than not, life just doesn’t turn
out exactly the way we have pictured it… but nothing that we face takes God by
surprise – HIS PLAN is still intact, and He is still working to perfect everything
that concerns us!! (Psalm 138:8)
I daily planted my feet on Proverbs 16:3 and
STOOD THERE!! One translation reads like this: “Roll your cares over onto Him; leave them there, and
trust Him. Then He will cause your very thoughts to come into agreement with
His will; your plans will be established and you will succeed.”
Never being around mental-illness before that
moment, I had no idea what to expect, how to handle daily events, or even how
to pray about what was happening to him. This story is more than thirty years
long – so I’ll have to give you the condensed version here. In the town we live
in, mental-health care is not as advanced as it in larger cities; sadly, my
husband didn’t get the care that he needed for many years.
Walking through this nightmare with my
husband, we daily saw God direct our steps and teach us whatever we needed to
know that day. There were times that the Doctors would want him to do this or
that – and we knew in our spirit that there was something wrong with that plan,
or that medication… and instantly knew what questions to ask – to get the
correct information to arrive at a desired end. During those years, more than
one medical person asked me where I received my “medical training” or was I a “Doctor
or an RN?” We had no medical training or understanding of such things,
outside of the God-given wisdom. I often
asked questions about medications or interactions of different drugs, and didn’t
even understanding the question! God gives us the GRACE that we need DAILY… He never gave me Tuesday’s grace on
Monday… Know what I mean? He gives us what we need for the day… and He
never fails!!
There’s
an old Andre Crouch song called “My Tribute” or “Through It All” – the lyrics
are… “…if
I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know
that God could solve them…”
(“Through It All” Article here )
The words to that song are so true!! We never cherish going through difficult
challenges of life… but there we get to know the Father, in new and bigger
ways. If I had never needed Him to direct my steps when I faced this “goliath”
– I wouldn’t know that He would!! Amen? J
When we face things that we don’t understand,
things that we can not handle on our own - it gives our Heavenly Father a perfect
place to show just how much He loves us, and how powerful He can be, when we
get Him involved.
My
pastor recently taught a message called “Raising
Up A David” – in that sermon he said something that instantly grabbed my attention: He said… “if it were not for Goliath,
David would have been just another shepherd
boy!” w0w!! That really spoke to
me!! God does use all that life
brings our way – He brings good from it,
and uses it to train us, to grow us, and to show Himself strong. He is such a wonderful and amazing Father!!
J
You
may listen to Pastor Scott Olin’s encouraging sermon here: http://www.newhopecitychurch.com
click on “sermons” then on “Raising A David”
Back to
my God-story…
At the time this “adventure” began, I was
still bound by fear, very timid and easily intimidated by anything that moved! Ha!! God used this situation to PUSH
me to the FRONT and give me BOLDNESS that I didn’t think was possible, and it definitely
was NOT in my plans!!
I found my timid little self having to face GIANTS
in the medical field, to fight for my husband, and see to it that he got the
care that he needed. Without a SPECIAL-GRACE
and WISDOM OF GOD, this wonderful,
loving godly-man would have lived the last thirty years of his life in a mental
institution, strapped to a chair and drugged to be “easily managed” – with no
life at all … BUT GOD!!
But God… had a better plan!! God protected my husband, directed
our steps every day, and restored him to a life filled with His peace, and people
who loved him.
Again, I had no clue of what needed to be
done, how to do it – or even understanding of his illness (nor did anyone else in our life)… but I have a Heavenly Father who
knows it all! And always has wisdom
and direction to give – no matter what it is that we face!!
Whatever life brings your way – there is
NOTHING that God has not ALREADY SEEN
and already MADE PROVISION for!! James 1:5 says… “If
you lack wisdom in any area – ASK!!!...”
Where ever you find yourself today, whatever
the question, whatever the need – your heavenly Father has a plan, and He will
unfold His will in front of you. God WILL give you THE GRACE that you need to
get through “today” … every day!!
My Heavenly Father is a God who loves His
children ~ and never leaves us alone! He
has walked me through every day of my life. I was a “needy kid” a “fear-ruled
teen” and walked through many un-expected challenges in life – and I am here to
report… HE NEVER FAILS!! He will
be EVERYTHING that you need “today”… every day!
Thank you for allowing me to share the
goodness of God, in my life with you. I would be happy to pray with you, if you’d
like to email me here: JD@word2day.com
Jeanene
– still leaning on Jesus ~ and loving Him!
