by Kim Avery
The old saying, ‘bad news travels fast,’ has never been more true than in this day and age of email communication. Within seconds of a negative event, like a stealth letter bomber Google quietly places each crisis in my gmail account where it silently waits for my click to ignite the fuse.
It Explodes
The only thing worse than watching these letter bombs slide into my inbox hour after hour all day long is to blissfully go to bed thinking all is well and then to awake to the nuclear fallout that I call my life.
Fifteen minutes after opening Outlook this morning, I am still sitting here stunned, gaping at the aftermath.
- My trusted mentor has only weeks left to live
- Depression captures another friend
- My disheartened colleague helplessly watches a client in whom she has invested so much hit a wall that can’t be moved
- A tiny mistake in judgment on my part has turned into a costly mess that I can’t fix
- A situation into which I’ve poured all my prayers and love grows worse with each passing day
- Someone precious to me has just been hurt - again
- Money I had counted on won’t be coming my way
- I’ve disappointed someone I deeply love
- I look at the clock and it’s only 6:00 a.m.
Paralyzed
Breathe, Kim. Just breathe. There’s nothing to be done but pause, continue my routine, and open the rest of the morning mail. I find this tucked in my letter from the King:
- The Eternal One is my rock, my fortress, and my salvation
- He is my True God, the stronghold in which I hide
- I call out to the Eternal One, that’s how I will be rescued…
- He set me down in a safe place
- He saved me to His delight
- He took joy in me
- I love You, Eternal One, source of my power (Psalm 18)
But for God…
“Precious Heavenly Father, I am in awe of the fact that before the beginning of time, you knew what this day would hold. You knew that my spirits would sink, my confidence would shake, and unbidden tears would slide down each cheek. You knew and You acted.”
“Even as these emails gathered to conspire against Your sleeping child, You wrote Your message of love. You engraved it eternally in Your book, you placed it in my hands, and on today’s reading schedule You ordained that I would open Psalm 18.”
“Like a warm blanket on a cold day, Your words have wrapped themselves around me and they hold me tight. Hope dares to peek at the 23 hours ahead, the soul trembling lessens, and Your Words wipe a tear from my eye. You are my strong foundation, and though the mountains shake You will never be moved.”
“Delight in rescuing me on this rubble-strewn day and may Your tsunami of love wash all my worries away.”
“I love You.”
Your Embattled Child,
Kim
Tags: God, sufferings
Kim - I will be in fervent prayer for you, my friend. Remember this…right smack dab in the middle of the Book of Lamentations (the perfect location for hope) is this ray of stunning Scriptural sunshine:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Another translation of that passage, Lamentations 3:22-23 is this: “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Praying God’s tsunami of love and peace and joy over you today, my friend.
Wow, I know many of those doomed feelings. When it seems like the day has gone so horribly wrong and I haven’t even had breakfast yet. Great post. Thank you.
Hi there! Thanks for joining the Blog Hop. I’m following you now. Love your blog. I’ll be back later to read more.
Happy Follow Friday!
Tami
http://www.heartsmakefamilies.com
Strangely enough, the day is going from bad to worse - so thank you so much for the encouragement and prayers.
God is good - all the time.
Kim, my friend, I know EXACTLY what you are feeling, maybe not the exact details, but the overwhelming sense that things keep piling on. I am so forever thankful that He is there with both of us, protecting, guiding, guarding, and preparing us for each and every step of the way.
Thanks Mel - It always a blessing to have companionship on this journey with Jesus. Let me know if there is ever anyway that I can encourage you in your wonderful ministry.
Kim
Hey! I am so sorry to hear about everything! I hope you feel better soon!
Oh, Kim! You have described exactly how I feel some mornings as well. Particularly over the past few months it seems those “letter bombs” keep arriving!
I have had to work hard to rest in God, to breathe in His peace, to breathe out his grace to others. It can be exhausting and I want you to know how much I value your ministry.
I will pray for your continued strength, stamina, peace of mind and heart.
Blessings,
Mary
Oh Mary,
I am so sorry to hear that the enemy is busy at your house as well.
Thank you for taking the time out to encourage me.
Please know that my prayers are with you.
God Bless,
Kim