Gloom, Despair, and Rejoicing

Laying in bed a few nights ago, the cares of this world began to crowd in very tightly on me. We had taken on the daunting task of reworking our home. As you know, one thing leads to another. Paint the garage, the foyer looks bad, paint the foyer, the kitchen looks bad, so on and on. Doing the work at night and on weekends gets old in a hurry, but you can't get off the ride until it stops. When the paint looks good, then the carpet and cabinets look as if they need to be replaced. Well hell, why not put hardwood in the dining room? Ok, we adjusted to that, we'll just put it in all the downstairs. Why, we can't leave off the kitchen cabinets. Thank goodness I can do the back splashes for the stove and sink.


If you have ever been self employed, you know that some months are not going to be as good as other ones. That's what happened to us. We are spending money and the work stops. Even though it is budgeted, you are plagued by the thought that maybe you should hold on to this money at this time. You would think that I would be used to this cycle by now, but I am not. I know from past experience that it will pick up again and soon. For the last fifteen years we have been having serious problems with our children. We have 2 granddaughters that live only a couple of miles away from here, and we haven't seen them for 18 months; not our choice, because we dearly love them and it keeps us up at night. Then my neighbor after 22 years and a survey that she did 5 years ago, now says that the line is on her 50'. So now you know the mindset that I was in when I turned in for the night.


This night was different, the weight of the world was crashing in on me, and blacker than night despair was making itself known, each breath was hard to come by and my heart was pounding. Tossing back and forth, to and fro, up and down I could not get any relief. My legs hurt, my back was sore, I could not get any relief. I know that God through His Son will take care of everything, but I am only a man, and need to be reminded of this fact every once in a while. When I called on His name, everything suddenly became clear. I was held in place by His loving arms, as the ground was jerked out from under me. I could not have fallen if I wanted to. I could see the earth below me, with people floating around at every imaginable height, going in and out of the clouds effortlessly and contented. It was not the black night that I had just experienced, but just twilight enough to see everything clearly. I heard a strong voice inside my head, "If I can hold you up over all of this, without touching you, then you can rest assured that I will take care of you and the cares of this world will not reach you. I am sufficient for all your needs, and will meet all of your physical, spiritual, and emotional needs."
That allowed me to have the best night's sleep that I have had in a long while.He reminded me and wanted me to tell ya'll that whatever it is in your life that is trying to take over, that He is in control and will keep us until the end.
Since this blog goes directly to facebook, some of my friends will remember me in high school as a drinker and all around unsavory character. So, why should you believe or listen to me? Good question. Saul persecuted and killed Christians before he saw the Light on the Damascus road and changed his name to Paul. Look at what God did through him. I have not killed anyone, but I have done some stuff. If Jesus looked at me from the cross 2000 years ago, and said I am doing this for you and everyone else that will listen and believe, just imagine what He can and will do for you.