Hey, you lovely things! This morning early I got a very touching text from someone that made me start reflecting on so many ways that God seems to go out of His way (if that were possible) to make sure we know He’s got our backs. You know what I’m talking about. Ways that He whispers in your ear or maybe reverberates from the mountaintops that He’s aware of what you’re battling and where you’re hurting. Ways He tells you He has NOT forgotten. Ways He assures you that your prayers are not just hitting the ceiling. That He’s on it and that your life has not for the merest instant been swallowed up in a black hole. That in your WAIT He is at WORK.
So I tweeted these two statements this morning, one right after the other:
First one:
Sit up slack-jawed over all the ways God lets you know He’s got your back. He’ll tell people to pray for you who have no earthly notion why.
Second one:
Per last tweet, I’m glad God can tell people to pray without telling them why. Sometimes I want people in my burden but not in my business.
The responses that almost instantly flew up on my phone exhilarated me and built me up in my faith as numerous people told me that they’d experienced the same gorgeous phenomenon. The one bad (and sometimes GOOD!) thing about Twitter is that the space is too limited to get super specific. Now that my curiosity is piqued, I want to hear some testimonies! Tell your sisters here in this community one way God has done this kind of thing for you. Tell us a specific incident or sight or encounter or correspondence He used to make sure you knew that He was with you, intimately aware of your situation. Girlfriend, you ARE very much on His radar.
Let’s testify about some ways God leaves you thinking something like,
“You hem me in, behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high; I cannot attain it…How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:5-6,17
In other words…
Can’t wait to hear! Just so you know that no one was posing as your own Siesta Mama in that picture…
And that bleached blond right there loves you.
My dear friends who are expecting their second child and desperately wanting to move home, to the city where I live, we’re on my mind yesterday morning. And Beth’s post reminded me: they’re not just on my mind; God is prompting me to pray for them! I spent a beautiful morning in prayer for them.
It wasn’t until reading this post that I realized JUST how much God has my back. Received a note in the mail yesterday that a stranger is praying for me, by name, from the Moms In Prayer organization (I lead a local group). I have been praying for weeks for moms to come and no one has. We used to have a thriving group for years, but not anymore. I have been praying for someone to come, someone to care that this goup is dying. Of course someone does! Thanks for allowing me to wake up from my pity party and see GOD HAS MY BACK! 🙂
Freeland, Mi He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31
Recently went through 12 days at the hospital with my father before he died. Each day as we experienced the ups and downs, decisions, etc. the Lord sent believers into my path who spoke truth and some prayed with me; nurses to care for my dad, care coordinators, bible believing pastoral care from the facility. He was an ever present help in the time of trouble!
We are missionaries, and just when it looks like our monthly support may be a little short, we’ll get a generous gift from someone whom we don’t even know! What is always amazing to me is not just that God speaks to others on our behalf, but that they obey! Maybe that’s why He chose to use them? 🙂
I am going through a very difficult separation from my husband right now. My little one & I are both suffering immensely. I have not openly shared this with my Facebook friends. At 5a yesterday morning, I received a message from someone I’ve not seen since I was a child & really don’t know her well at all. She simply said that God had impressed her to pray for me and that she wasn’t sure of the reason but just wanted me to know.
This has been a time of immense darkness and hurt but God keeps penetrating this darkness with rays of light. I am oh so grateful.
Thank you, Beth, for what you shared. It pushed me to pay attention and reminded me to see Him in my details and not take lightly when He is reminding me that He knows my name & every last part of me. Needed that!
i am so very sorry to hear what you are going through. i will pray for you.i went through the same thing.there were times when if it had not been for my precious child an my savior i would have probably done something stupid. but thank God he would always send someone to encourage me to make it through one more day.i never thought i would get over losing my husband to another woman and the loss of my intact little family.but after about a year and a half God sent me a wonderful man that had gone through the same thing.oh how he has used him to heal my broken heart.i now have a wonderful little grandson and in many ways see where i have it much better than i did before.please hang in there.i love you in the Lord!
Hi Beth, I just went through a bible study you wrote for the first time this month and I will never be able to thank you enough for your obedience to our Father ion writing it for Him. He blessed me so so much through it and revived me (I have 2 kids 2 and under). I have been praying for you these past two weeks because I think He laid on my heart that such obedience needs prayers of protection around it. I don’t even really know you but I know our God is protecting you. Have a great day!
Beth – you just make me smile! I was reminded about what happened a couple of weeks ago – I was in the James study and you started speaking of “Between the Rains.” That message was what I needed to hear at that point. It was like God spoke through you right into that camera into my heart. Made me shout PRAISE GOD! So thank you for letting the Holy Spirit work through you! You are appreciated!
God’s word, music, and the love of friends are showing my family that God has our backs. My mom was diagnosed at the end of January with a very aggressive stage 4 cancer after an emergency surgery involving a colostomy, as if the colostomy wasn’t enough! For the last 6 years, I have been struggling with prayer and trusting God following a broken and stressed out heart and major spiritual war. God has shown me his love by giving me His words to pray including 2Kings 19:14-19 in which the Assyrian army had laid waste to many of the nations and lands surrounding Israel and was now preparing to attack Israel. Upon receiving the message, Hezekiah, the king, spread the message out upon the floor of the house of the LORD and prayed, “….Now… O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone.” Mom’s body is being “laid waste” by cancer. The message from the Dr. is devastating, but like Hezekiah, God is telling me to spread this threat out before Him and watch Him be God. He alone laid waste to the Assyrian army. Praise God He is powerful regardless of my feelings. I know God may not heal mom’s body, but to heal her spirit and those of others surrounding us would be a greater victory. Casting Crowns song “Come to the Well” is another prayer God has given to me during this season.
“And all who thirst will thirst no more/ And all who search will find what their souls long for/ The world will try, but it can never fill/ So leave it all behind/ And come to the well.”
several months ago my husband received a promotion at work (in name only)….in other words, no pay raise with it…this of course didn’t set well with our flesh…he was given MORE responsibility and MORE headache….after carefully making his feelings known to his supervisor, we agreed we would let God handle it….and HE DID! Two weeks ago my husband came home to show me his pay increase…I was more excited that God had answered our prayer than I was at the actually money..GOD HAS MY BACK and I’m sooooo thankful!!!
He let me know He has my back yesterday evening. I read this post and decided to come back to it later. I went on to do my homework of the Bible study my small group is doing – The Patriarchs. Week 2, Day 1 – wow! The account of Sarai’s servant, Hagar, running away and encountering God. Beth, although I was familiar with this account, I was blown away, fresh and new, by the truth of who God is – El Roi. I was so completely awestruck in the moment I finished reading your closing comments for that particular day all I wanted to do was shout and fall on my face in worship. You wrote, “Sometimes we don’t realize we’ve encountered God until our vision clears. Maybe that’s what seeing His back means. He is the God who sees you.” He is here – He cares for me – He has my back! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME – HE IS THE GOD WHO SEES ME!
Two very big ways here is one. Your study on Jesus reinforced how it is truly better to give than to receive. God covering me in a blanket of His mercy and grace, he does have my back. For years I have begged him to release me from my addiction to nicotine, to take the desire away, to make it easy. On my knees begging then feeling such defeat when I lit the next one and I always did. Feeling the shame of failure over and over just let me smoke more. Quit for a free weeks gain a free opinions smoke, start over. Bottom line I loved smoking. You study led me to the question what have I ever done for God? Go to church, tithe, try to be good girl (James study can’t get there by good works without faith). Well that has changed I decided to give up a couple of things I love because I love God more. Smoking is one of them. God has my back you bet sister, he flipped the switch desire gone, no clenched teeth. Oh how I LOVE Him! Stay tuned for # 2 it is equally hug. Blessings!
You should be your, free should be few, hug should be hugh. . . sorry!
God reached out with flowers from a friend ;). It was this past February 13th, the 12th anniversary of my father’s passing & my 12 year old dog had just died two days before. I was so sad, but getting ready to have Bible study at my home (Beth’s To Live Is Christ). This sweet friend whom I haven’t known very long, brings me tulips ! She didn’t know about these two events or how I was feeling, so when I told her how hard the day was and the flowers were lovely, she replied, ” I wouldn’t tell just anyone this, but God put it on my heart to bring you flowers today” .
Doesn’t that just shout His gracious love for us?! And the fact that she was obedient to His prompting and recognized it as such…awesome. I have a picture of the pink tulips to always remember The Lord ‘s great kindness. Our Lord sees and acts! He listens and hears. Yep, God is Great, indeed!
He used you! This Blog post this morning was my encouragement and reminder.
Thank you!!
This has happened to me several times – on both sides. One day I felt a urgency to pray for a friend so I kept praying for her throughout the day until I could get in touch with her and then I found out that she had been in a serious car accident. God is awesome!
Then, one night I had a dream that told me to get people to pray for my middle daughter. So I got up in the morning and started calling people asking them to pray. When I called my mom, she said that she was awoken in the night with the same burden and that she had already contacted the prayer team at her church. It turns out that my daughter was going through a really difficult time and hadn’t told us. God is so amazing. I don’t know what would have happened to her if God’s people hadn’t surrounded her with prayer. It still brings tears to my eyes.
Deut. 20:3-4
Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies. Let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord, your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory.
We are in a battle right now and God has given me this verse, just the other day when I did not even know what was coming. He is so Faithful! I am standing and believing on this verse.
thanks for the post!
I often go back and read my own journal writings when in a time of despair, I am continually drop jawed (is that a word) when I see prayers I prayed that were written in my journal that honestly i just forgot about but He had recently answered. It is so encouraging to me to remember His faithfulness and the Hope that arises for that next prayer is always restored! When I see how He is with me and for me, that He doesn’t forget my prayers even when I do, I am grateful and hopeful again! I would recommend this, write out your prayers. Go back later and see just how faithful He is, it will make you look at the sky and smile!! He is with us!!!!
Going thru a tough time with insecurity. Seems like I am having waves of circumstances come over me to enhance my insecurities. I was ask to stop teaching Sunday School after 3years and of course now I feel like I have no purpose and have such self contempt thoughts. Then I got a message from one of my students encouraging me, that I am a An Amazing, open, dedicated, loving teacher and totally being used by God. Yeah God knows exactly what I need… He has my back.
My 31 year old husband was very sick and in the hospital for a month. I had been saying “Be still and know I am God” over and over all month. One day when things were particularly bad, I pulled into a church parking lot on the way home from the hospital. I put my head on the steering wheel and cried until there were no tears left. When I finished and looked up I saw the church marquee had Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know I am God.” Still brings tears to my eyes 10 years later.
Since switching to a Baptist church a few years ago, I had been searching for answers about the differences between what my new church (and my baptist husband) believe about salvation and what I was taught growing up. I had talked to the pastor a long time ago, which hadn’t seemed like it helped at the time, and, especially this whole past year, I had been trying to figure it out, reading articles by people of different denominations, different interpretations of Bible passages, trying to ask people about it. And reading a lot of the New Testament, which seemed less understandable than I remembered, or maybe it just seemed deeper because I was really trying to understand it and not just read through it. I told my bible study leader that I can’t just pick what I’m going to believe; until I know what’s True, I will just have to say I don’t know, because that is true. But that I didn’t know if the answer was knowable, or if God wanted me to know, because I couldn’t see anyway to tell who was right, between one side’s interpretation of scripture and the other side’s. I didn’t really want to talk to the pastor again, because I already had a long time ago, and I felt like I would just be saying, I didn’t believe you the first time. So, I finally decided to go and talk to him again. I called to set a time when I could meet with him, and the office scheduling person said I could come the next day or in a week. I decided to wait a week so I could read something else first that I wanted to ask about. Well, during that week, In Between my scheduling the appointment and keeping it, something else unrelated happened that caused me to suddenly see God’s grace and forgiveness in a whole different way, and it didn’t have to do with the list of bible verses, it was like I suddenly realized that things I believed from sunday school growing up were not compatible with each other and I could suddenly see it a whole different way. And so I asked the pastor about it when I saw him. I felt like God had timed all these things to show me his truth, and to show me that He was doing it because He did want me to know the truth. I wrote down this: “I feel an overwhelming sense of God’s love, not just because these things are true but because he wants me to know it.” Now I can’t believe you wrote this on your blog the next day.
God has my back! God gives more faith! God always provides! You see my husband lost his job yesterday. God has my back! Nancy Minor
My husband, Bill, read this post with me this morning. He said, Ellen, you know, I always have your back. I smiled up at him and said you know, I know that, and it makes me feel so good! But knowing even more, now maybe even more than ever, I know that the Lord has My back!! Just like Beth said, He hems me in behind and before. I have had a recent struggle with depression in my life. My hopeless thoughts were not good. And yet, day by day, moment by moment, the Lord is healing me. Even when I could not pray, I know the Lord had my back. I just kept telling myself, He’s got this, he’s got it! Praise God for Beth’s words this morning.
I am in an extended period of waiting right now. In the mean time I am caring for my aging father and longing for the future God has for me and a very prayed for spouse. I know this time, this season is God’s will but sometimes I need to know He still sees me, that He still cares. I often pray God, can I get an ‘I hear ya’ (something I got from a blog you once wrote). Last month I was in such a mood, wishing for an ‘I hear ya’ when out of the blue on Valentine’s day morning, I got a phone call from a dear friend of mine who is a Messianic Jewish Rabbi in another state. I love him and his wife dearly. We usually get together for coffee when they are in town but we rarely chat on the phone. He called and said this is Rabbi, I was just thinking about you and he played an old song over the phone for me. That was it. Maybe a 5 minute conversation most of which was listening to the old song. As soon as I hung up, I started crying and thanking God for the ‘I hear ya’! To have such a busy and important man take time out of his day to call me was astounding and I knew immediately in my heart that God was saying, I’m still hear. I still see you. And it was valentine’s day no less. I don’t think Rabbi had any idea what day it was, he never mentioned it but God did. (Just an FYI, the song was I’d Rather Have Jesus being sung by George Beverly Shea.)
I have been blessed to see God’s hand at work and have had people let me know that they felt the nudge to pray for me! Most recently I’ve seen and felt this in my battle with cancer, but the first thought that came to mind happened several years ago.
My uncle called to let us know that my cousin had died suddenly that morning. She’d had a congenital disease and we expected she wouldn’t live too long. I had to call my parents next as they were out of town, but I was stuck feeling conflicted because I didn’t know where this cousin stood with the Lord. At that moment my eyes fell on a perpetual bible verse calendar in our kitchen. The verse for that day was Isaiah 66:13 “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” Talk about God speaking directly to you! I was comforted and was able to share His message with others in the family who are on the fence. Praise God!
I hope this encourages everyone who reads it! Several years ago my husband, children and I moved from MS to GA, returning closer to home. We were questioning wether God was in our move or not about 2 months being here. We were driving down a road from our home and there was a balloon on the side of the road. Of course we stopped to see it for the children grin, it had a tag attached from a church in MS giving out bibles, it wasn’t we needed a bible but we needed the message attached to that balloon and as if God spoke he said “if I can bring this balloon from MS I can certainly bring you”! We never questioned the move again. We buried my husband and children’s Father 1 month ago at the age of 59 from a fight with cancer at his grave side I released 3 balloons with my information attached to give out 3 bibles. A lady from Jacksonville FL received that balloon and a bible. The thing that struck my children was the balloon went to the place their Dad grew up as a boy and graduated high school and was planning a trip there months before he died. God showed himself to my children through that and they truly needed that touch from Him! Since the death of their Dad I text my children everyday scripture and a few words of encouragement and God supplies me something new every morning!!! He makes himself so real to me that I can’t even express in words but I know this GOD is GOD and lives in me!!!! Everyone truly have a blessed day!!!
Last weekend one of several health issues my husband is dealing with came to a crisis point and I had to take him to the hospital just after he preached Sunday morning’s sermon. (He insisted on preaching first!) A friend had told her daughter a few weeks ago about the health issues, which are similar to something they dealt with in their family. My friend called me and said that her daughter had been so burdened to pray for my husband over the weekend and had asked her mom if she knew why that would be. (The friend had been out of town and was unaware of the crisis until she called me to tell of her daughter’s prayers.) It was a definite sign to me that though the current crisis was unknown to the daughter, it was not unknown to our God, and He was calling His people to rally in prayer. (The immediate crisis is over, but the root of the issue is still a mystery. We are glad to have a community of believers praying for us as we “walk through the valley.”) God does indeed “have our back.”
WOW!! God does work in wonderful mysterious ways. I read this blog and was encouraged to keep on running the race He has set out for me. While we face the end of my unbelieving fathers life I struggle in prayer for him and his salvation. And today your precious words buoyed my spirit to not give up praying for him. God has a plan for all this and all I need to be is willing to obey Him.
Thanks
Recently I found a sticky note I had placed in my bible approximately 10 years ago. A holy teacher had instructed me to write something that I would love for God to do but could not, in a million years, imagine happening. Well, at the time I was divorced from my husband (God has since restored our marriage) and I have two grown children that are both married. I wrote on that sticky note that someday I would love to be serving in a ministry with my entire family. Seriously, I forgot about that note but recently everyone in my family has attended a retreat called “The Journey to Damascus” and it has been life changing for us. Everyone in my family has attended this retreat except for one person and they just stated that they would be attending in April. We will all be there working and supporting this person and working as a family in this ministry. Wow, God is so good and he does have our backs!!
He lets me know through His spirit, His word, His answered prayers. I have had a rough couple of years and through all of it, God has let me know that it’s all gonna be okay. I had some specific prayers concerning my preaching husband and He knew I was desperate and He answered so quickly that it stopped me in my tracks ! Not everything goes this way but He lets me know that He is in control and all I have to do is be faithful to Him. I’m in the midst of studying His word and striving for the mark harder than I ever have I think. I so appreciate this place and each lady involved in this thing. I love each of you so very much ! 🙂
The effect and inspiration of the post and the comments alone could be my testimony of how God reminds me He has my back.
For years now there have been some people who seemed bent on destroying me and erasing things I worked hard to accomplish. God kept carrying me through every loss, every attack, but on Sunday when 2 tried their none sense right in Church, I came home and just lost it. I thought I had grown stronger over the years, but I was broken. It wasn’t just about the offense, but how it was done, in the place of worship, just after a communion service, by some who are looked on as leaders.
I ran to the Lord and at first it just seemed that everything He was sending to me was about forgiveness and not returning evil for evil.
Then I awoke Monday with the song ‘Thou Oh Lord are a shield for me, the glory and the lifter of my head’, playing loudly in my head as if someone had a radio on. On Tuesday I was reading my Bible and 2 verses leaped off the page at me…
The Lord within her is righteous; He does no wrong. Morning by He dispenses His justice, and every new day He does not fail; yet the unrighteous know no shame. Zephaniah 3:5
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you WITH SINGING. Zephaniah 3:17
I remembered the song in my head the morning before. I knew it was God who sent it to strengthen me. I was really tempted on Sunday to take matters into my own hands, but God has calmed me down and reminded me He’s got this.
When I am really burdened about something, the best thing for me is to go outside and walk and pray. In praying, I have noticed that God will “respond” to me by allowing me to see a flock of birds flying overhead or feeding in a grassy field….as if He is reminding me that just like He takes care of the birds, He will take care of me. He will also “respond” through the wind. Many times He has quieted my fears and frustrations, by sending a gust of wind to blow over me….again reminding me of just how powerful He is.
Just yesterday on my way in to work, (my husband and I are currently down to one vehicle, which can be a good and bad thing sometimes 😉 and God spoke through my husband to remind me that He was still there for me, that the things He had promised me would still come to pass that He had not forgotten about me. Then I got in and read this piece from Beth and it again just touched my heart that God wants to remind us that He is there for us again and again, and He “has our backs!”
My husband and I felt called to be missionaries about a year ago and have been raising support since. I’ve been more of the doubter where His provision is concerned. However, over the past year, I’ve seen him provide in ways and through people that I could never have imagined and we are about to step out in faith in May on half of our support and I have TOTAL peace – something I wouldn’t have DREAMED of a year ago. I’ve seen He is with us (felt his presence and can testify to his work) and He is providing for EVERY need. I was recently approached by a stranger and he told me “He sees your tears.” That, of course, produced more, but to know He is watching/carinig for my silly little tears is absolutely HUMBLING!
I have had so little hope in several areas of my life and God has assured me there is always hope with Him. My first memory verse this year is: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
God shows me through His living and enduring Word that He has my back! My HOPE is in Him!
A month ago I had felt discouraged all day about a situation that I was helpless to do anything about except pray for. That afternoon my husband and I were headed to our son’s tournament and the Google directions did not get us where we needed to be. We took the next road headed east and eventually arrived at the street we needed. But it was the stop sign at that intersection that proved we were exactly where HE want us to be. Someone had painted two extra words on it so that it said: DON’T STOP BELIEVING.
A few years ago, we moved from our home of 30 years…a home of raising three children to adults, a home full of memories…some good, some not so much. A home where my extended family gathered for holidays, where friends and youth had gathered over the years, to a new home and community hours away. Although my new home was amazing, and so much better than the one we were selling, every thought of giving up that “place” was breaking my heart. I had prayed SO DESPERATELY for peace about this new stage in my life, at a time when I had PLANNED on a simpler life. As I was praying one morning, I asked the Lord for a specific word that would help me bear the changes. I turned my head and looked down at the Bible, where I’d been studying Haggai (of all places), and it was as if this verse was highlighted (which it now is).
“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the LORD Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the LORD Almighty.
The book of Haggai was about a call to build the LORD’s house. Although I don’t play “Bible roulette,” by picking and choosing verses I want, His Word that morning was a fresh one for me and my situation. And yes, He has granted peace!
Several years ago I was in despair over circumstances in my life (I know – that’s a sermon for another day). Anyway, I fell from despair into doubt–and struggled mightily with that.
Then about a year or so ago, I confessed my doubt to God and just threw it at him and asked Him to take it from me, which he did. But from time to time, a little doubt would tug at the outside corners of my mind.
During my quiet time one morning recently, I was crying out to God over my on-going battle with this doubt. I opened my Bible to the day’s passage (in going through 90 days with John the Beloved), and God’s word jumped off the page and into my heart – Jesus was telling Thomas “just stop doubting and believe!”
I laughed and cried and praised all at the same time – because I know Jesus was actually saying that to me, not Thomas. 🙂
Don’t you just LOVE Him?!?!
(There are many other instances, but this is the most recent that came to mind. Girl- I could tell you some things that would knock your socks off!)
It’s been very cloudy, overcast skies, and down-right depressing without the sun lately. While walking my dog the other day (bless his heart that he needs to go out every day), I was feeling so glum with all the heavy responisbilities I have right now. Lord, how on earth will I do this and do it right?
Suddenly, a ray of sunshine peeked through the clouds. And interestingly, it was from the part of the sky that looked the darkest! The stream of sunlight was so clear and it came all the way to the ground. I love that!!
Even when things seem dark and stormy and we can’t see the sun… there He still is! He might be blocked from my physical view by all the clouds in my life, but He is never gone. I’m reminded that God created light before He created the sun! How awesome is that?!
And every morning, when I get up and glance out my window and notice that it’s already getting light before the sun is “up”, I am reminded of God’s ever-loving faithfulness.
Oh, He has my back alright! Praise you, Lord!!
Thanks Siesta Mama for those encouraging words. In January a few of us ladies at our church talked about wanting to have a Bible Study. We are a small baptist church (average 75 – 100 in attendance on Sunday mornings). We put out the word and figured that 5 – 10 ladies would be interested. Well, 35 ladies signed up – God sure got my attention. There are 3 sisters, along with their mom, one of their daughters and also one of their mother-in-laws. This is the first ladies Bible Study in our church since they did First Place probably 10 years ago. We are doing Esther (there are actually 4 ladies in the study who have done Esther before). We are in our 4th week and it is wonderful. I have done several of your studies before at other churches, but am so thankful that God has opened the door to have it in our own church. We do have probably 10 ladies with us that do not attend our church – so thankful for being able to share and fellowship with other believers. Thank you for allowing God to use you to teach us.
I’m not sure how God has my back, but I know he does. My family has been through tremendous upheaval since December 16. Jobs, cars, illness, death. I have sat in bed crying and praying “I don’t doubt you or your word God, but I can even form a sentence right now and all I can do is not doubt and praise you through tears” ….I guess I can say He has my back by reminding me that I don’t doubt him. If that makes sense.
Susan, several years ago, I had one of those terrible years. We called it “hell year,” because it seemed the enemy had loosed hell and attacked us greatly. The year started with the unexpected death of my dad and was followed by my husband’s job loss, severe illnesses, and other things that just came out of the blue. That year passed, and I was clinging even tighter to Him all through it. My life has never been perfect, but that was truly a difficult season, as this one is for you.
Continue to hold fast, and remember Luke 12:32: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Praying for you, sweet sister!
The past three weeks have been the most intense of my life. I have been a little stressed to say the least. I am a church secretary and on Fridays I only work half a day.
On my way to work today I was thinking about how I had to start and finish a monthly finance report by noon. I hit the door running…I entered a whole batch of invoices to pay and was about to hit the button to post them when, I believe with all my heart, the Lord stopped me and had me notice the posting date. If I had posted them without changing the date, it would have taken hours to undo it all.
I’m so grateful that He “had my back”! He knew what I had to accomplish today and helped me not to waste time.
I posted my memory verse a coupLe weeks ago, & it felt very random. Just a verse I came across and thought ‘ that’s short- I can memorize that!’ But it’s been rustling around in my brain & I know its holding a gem of clear truth for me. . .somewhere. Anyway, after I post it, I scroll up to read a few others, and what jumps off the page at me but the exact same verse!!!!! John 1 vs 5 “The light shines in the darkness & the darkness has not overcome (understood) it.” NIV Obviously, this needs more meditation. . . . .
I too am in the most difficult season as I was recently diagnosed with the advance stages of Lyme Disease. We are grateful for the diagnosis after battling years of debilitating illness. Two weeks ago I left my husband and two teenage daughters to begin what may be a year long treatment plan. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and feels like the battle of my life but I’m “Believing God” to work all this for good because I love Him. Daily, I find myself in tears crying out to God. Here is just one way He has shown me that “He has my back!” Part of my daily regimen requires that I bounce on a mini-trampoline for 20 minutes a day to help my lymphatic system. Mini-tramp? Who has a mini-tramp these days? And at this away from home location? A friend suggested an exercise ball instead. But on Monday, I walk out to the backyard and what is sitting in the far corner under a big tree? A very old but very useable mini-tramp from God just for me!!!
Karman,
Check out http://www.shadesofgrace.org. It’s a website by a lovely christian woman named Natalie Nichols who was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and went through great suffering. I believe you will be blessed and encouraged by her testimony.
Love,
Libby
When I was going thru tremendous relational pain that shook my world so badly that I started doubting God was real….this was a huge scary place. It was a Sunday morning and I wasn’t going to go to church, then last minute I got ready and said inside ‘God if you are really real I need a word from you today'(now understand I didn’t believe God did that today). I was asking for the impossible.
Got to church during last song, then a lady(no one knew my situation at this time) got up and said “this morning while I was getting ready God gave me this word:” she said not to give up and read some other verses which I have all written down but the main one I rem is: “Galatians 6:9 (NIV)Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
So not only did He speak He gave me words I needed that very day and for many many days to follow! Praise God!!
When I was much younger I got into some SERIOUS trouble with the law, the situation was SO SERIOUS that I was facing 7yrs in prison. All of the evidence was stacked against me, and the worst part is was that I was in a whole other state, by myself, away from my family support system. I will not say that I was totally innocent, but 7yrs was an exetremely severe sentence for the role that I played in that particular incident. I was being prosecuted because although I wasn’t the person at fault, I knew who was, what they did, and I was closed mouthed about everything; not because I wanted to be, but because I was afraid for my life that could’ve been in jeopardy from the backlash of my been cooperative with the police. The prosecuter was out for blood and I felt as if I were being nailed to the cross. So I remembered in my weakest moment to fast and pray ( THANK GOD FOR THE HOLYSPIRIT!), and I cried out to the LORD and he heard me. He came to my rescue in a mighty way, so much so that my attorney looked like he had seen a ghost. He was so angry with me when I kept turning down the plea deals that the prosecutor was offering which went from 7yrs to 5yrs, to 2yrs, to 4months with an ANKLE MONITORING SYSTEM accompanied with 5yrs PROBATION! That last deal was the one I took. I learned that day just how powerful God is, because he worked a miracle out in my favor, right before my eyes, and before the eyes of those who wished to do me harm The prosecutor looked so confused after the hearing, because remember, they were dead set on prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law, BUT GOD changed there hearts in an instant; so fast that even they couldn’t catch up until it was all over with! That was the day that Psalms 27 became my favorite scripture. I read that scripture so much as I was going through my valley experience and it gave me the hope to JUST HOLD ON. I pray that my testimony is a blessing to those of you that needed encouraging..God bless!
I was camping on Psalm 139:5 yesterday in my quiet time before I first laid eyes on this blog today. To realize that God had us on the same page yesterday makes me grin!
I receive a heightened sense of security in knowing I am covered by my God and I cannot be uncovered by the accuser. I just completed session 8 of the Revelation bible study Here and Now, Then and There. Pray for me to finish strong.
A BETH MOORE DVD STUDY
HERE AND NOW…THERE AND THEN
A LECTURE SERIES ON REVELATION
Thank you Beth. Oh how I needed to hear, “That in your WAIT He is at WORK.” I will keep that quote with me as I wait to be delivered by our God from my pit of destruction.
I grew up in a not so loving home with much fighting and
turmoil. As a young girl I use to pray with all my heart
that some day God would place me in a loving family. On
our way to my Grandparents (who were angels in disguise) there was a house we would pass that was two stories and they always had those electric Christmas candles in all the windows year round. I always thought that looked like the most loving home and dreamed some day I would have a loving home like that. God gave me an amazing husband who loves me like crazy at age 21 with parents that were the most wonderful I could ever imagine – Best inlaws EVER! Two AWESOME daughters & Grandchildren that fill my heart with so much joy, it could almost burst!! And 30 years later I live in a two story house that melts my heart every time I pull into the driveway and see the candles in the windows. (yep, all year long!) Thank You God, it was worth the wait.
I’m in a process of moving to Kenya later this year to be a long-term missionary, but feel as if some people really aren’t taking me seriously and as if I may not have what it takes to go through with this kind of life. One of my good friends who I’ve worked alongside and for in Africa sent me a letter recently telling me that she knows God is up to huge things with me, that she was so proud of the way I worked on the short-term trip, and that she’s been praying for me as I transition. It made a world of difference in my spirit. I realized God is up to amazing things regardless of how I or anyone else feel about it. How refreshing!!
Elisabeth, this is wonderful! I will be praying for you as you head to Kenya.
My Grandmother passed away May 1, 2012. I was very close to my grandma and sat with her the last 5 years on Saturday nights. I got her ready for bed and made sure she took her meds. Some nights I would spend the night (I’m 36 years old). But I loved spending the night with her. She LOVED birds and her favorite was the Cardinal. She also loved butterflies. The day she was buried I was so sad but at the gravesite I was standing with cousins. My cousin turned and said Jaime do not move. A butterfly had perched on my shoulder during the services. The next day I was leaving for work I stepped out on my back porch and what was sitting there waiting for me. A Cardinal!!!! I knew right then it was a God thing and he knew that I was in pain but he was right there with me. I did not have to face this one alone. He had my back!!! It seems at least once a week since she passed I see a Cardinal. I know God is letting me know she is with Him and He is with me.