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In early January, I started a devotional about recent events that caused me a great deal of aggravation:
- I miscalculated the credit card purchases for a remodelling project in my daughter's home and discovered that I will have to pay off an additional USD 1,000 (CAD 1,440) at the end of the month.
- My garbage disposal died, so I had a new one installed. Afterwards, I discovered my icemaker and reverse osmosis water dispenser weren't working and I couldn't figure out why.
- I had a new microwave installed. While washing dishes several weeks later, I heard an ominous noise and looked over to see the microwave dangling about four inches below the cabinet, held up only by the brace on the wall. Thankfully, I was able to prop it up while calling for help.
None of my issues that week were major or unsolvable, but they added up to a sense of unease, making me feel like I didn't have control of what was going on in my life. In fact, they all were fixed or repaired, so I wrote these two paragraphs:
- But if I'd focused instead on my blessings that week, I'd remember: our ladies' Bible study started and the group quickly melded together, our family remodeling project is going well, I'm sleeping better and have more energy, and, unlike the rest of the United States, we have sunshine and easy-to-deal-with temperatures.
The next Sunday, my pastor closed his sermon with this: "Jesus knows the heart of every man. This is why His spirit works to draw us to Him. He knows us. He knows it all. His heart is for us to desire eternal things in real life and to come to Him, living each day in belief and faith in Him, living not by our own ambitions or anything in this world, but feeding on Him and His Words, His grace, moment by moment and day by day. Do we trust in Him or are we desiring some lesser blessing?"
Then, a week later, I discovered that I didn't have any hot water. As I write, my son-in-law is installing a new water heater. Meanwhile, I turned on a light switch in the kitchen: no power — a faulty, and expensive, 100-amp circuit breaker. Today is another aggravating day. Now, I'm rereading what I wrote earlier this month and learning the lesson all over again!
If we let them, small things can add up and take the joy out of our lives. Instead, let's focus on the eternal things in real life, living each day in belief and faith in Him.
Philippians 4:12b,13 – I have learned the secret of living in every situation … with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (NLT)
Prayer: Father, give us the strength for daily, and sometimes troubling, issues, and help us see them in perspective, choosing instead to trust in You and to desire the eternal blessings in life. Amen.
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Thanks Sharon, blessings to you and your family.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon. Perspective is indeed crucial.
Good grief, Sharon. These are not little things it would seem, but your answer is, of course, the best one!
Yes. I bow my head before the eternal God of heaven and earth. In the face of so great a God, we who have experienced His grace and mercy raise our hands in worship and His peace is upon us. Blessings.
A beautiful testimony of God’s refining work in his loved one!
It’s not merely a few manageable aggravations, but the overwhelming pile-up of aggravations that break us down and draw us to God.
Hello Sharon,
Thank God provides and is in control no matter the situation! Here’s praying for a problem free year!
God bless.
Hi Sharon
I think you are doing well through all of this. If it were not for God, we would all lose it. He says He will never leave us or forsake us. Life is tough sometimes and we just have to trust in Him. He is the only one who is there for us all the time. Hope your day goes well.
Dear Ms. Cook,
Thank you for your wonderful devotional. I always enjoy reading what you write.
You have a wonderful way of relating something down to earth, that everyone can relate to, with a powerful, Gospel-centered message. Thank you for posting.
Warmest wishes to you and your family.
Thank you for writing this devotional.
Anxieties, Yeah sure.
Keep happy thoughts, Yeah sure.
Not easy.
Thanks.
Blessings.
Many thanks Sharon for another of your very positive and encouraging devotionals. You certainly have had a number of unfortunate happenings to deal with, but the Lord has given you strength to deal with each situation and strengthened your faith. We sure can be amazed how He works in our daily lives and responds at just the right time. Psalms verse 4:13 included with your devotional today is a constant mantra to me and has given me positive results from situations I’ve encountered over many years. Blessings for these writings you prepare and may you enjoy many special happenings in this New Year, 2025, and beyond.
I wish you more joy and less home repairs!
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing your devotional yesterday, Sharon. These aggravating circumstances can make us wonder at times Dear God “what’s next”.
Blessings!
I can so relate. We recently had a pipe break in our master suite that flooded my closet. All of our clothes, shoes, etc were quickly packed up so mitigation could begin. 95% of my clothing is packed in boxes in my garage. The closet was taken down to the studs, and we are waiting for the assessor to arrive to give the go ahead to put it all back together. It’s unsettling, however this is nothing in comparison to what so many who’ve lost everything, are going through. Yet, I still feel “off”. While recently studying Job, I was reminded that nothing can happen that God doesn’t allow! He’s got all of this, and I can rest in Him.