Where Do You Turn?

I don't know about you, but there are times in my life when there is too much going on for me to be able to handle it all. Between the normal chaos that comes with being a stay-at-home mother of two, let's toss in a semester of school, being a first time PTSA member, Room-Mom for two classes, being on the Women's ministry council at our church, and preparing for my husband to be in a different state for 5 months while he's in training. I absolutely LOVE my life, but there are times when it feels like it's just too much. How can one person be expected to do all the things that we as mothers do? God showed me the answer this morning in my Bible study, and I felt the need to share this wisdom this morning. You know me, if I'm not convicted of it myself, I don't blog it. So grab your Bible, and flip to these verses:


1 John 4:16 shows us that when we accept Christ's love for us, and abide in His love, then we are abiding in God and He with us. Nothing can separate us from God's love - NOTHING.


Psalm 86:3 When everyone is taking their hurts (be it a boo-boo, bad day at work, fight with a friend, or troubles with their family) where can you go? I'm really good at calling my friends and letting them know what is going on in my life, and listening to advice, or just listening to some sympathy. But, there isn't really anything that those dear friends can actually DO to improve my situation. I make take the help they offer, but there is only ONE who can actually change things for me. Why aren't I taking things to God in the first place?


James 5:16 This ties in well with what I said in the previous verse - if I am having trouble with sin, temptation, stress, ANYTHING - I should confess the problem to God. He can help! He may prompt me to confess to another person to make something right, but I should take everything to Him first.


Lord, I thank You for Your Word this morning. Thank You for showing me that when I abide in Your love, I abide in You and You with me. Thank You that I can take my troubles to You, and that when I am struggling, You want me to turn to You for help. You are such a merciful God. Amen.


I hope this is an encouragement to you this morning, like it was to me. Sometimes when things are getting too hectic, I feel like I'm having to do it all on my own - and that's just not true. God is here. He loves us. He wants us to turn to Him so He can help.


Remember the poem by Mary Stevenson:



Footprints in the Sand


One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."
Mary Stevenson


Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson, from original 1936 text, All rights reserved