A Battle For Him.

I woke up that Wednesday morning with the past evenings events etched in my mind. The feeling of lose and defeat weighed heavy on my heart. The thought of staying in bed for four more years was very tempting. It couldn't be real; I was determined to imagine that it had all been a dream, and now I was waking up with the sun shining and a bright new outlook on the day. But alas, I had to face that Wednesday morning just like any other day. My Bible lay on my dresser next to me, bulging with letters from dear friends, ripped-out notebook paper crinkled with writings, bookmarks, pens and bulletins from church. I thought of that book which I loved so much; the wrinkled pages that were covered with pen markings and highlighters, the verses that were circled and underlined with pen to remind myself of God's goodness. Yes, that book gets me through life. And now {shameful to say} as I lay there in my bed I doubted the power of those words. I doubted the hand of God, the very hand that made me, the very hand that formed the universe and calmed the storm, and the very hand that was nailed to the cross and bled for me. I grabbed my Bible, wanting to be reminded once more, and opened up to the pages to where I left off the day before; Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. “For both prophet and priest are polluted; Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the Lord. “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the Lord." {Jeremiah 23:9}. "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." {Proverbs 21:1} How could I worry, when I have such an awesome God? Thoughts buzzed through my head all day. Depression tried to creep in, but God's voice had spoken to me and lifted me out. I'm not worried, I'm not scared. Why should we ask for the easy way out? God wants to stretch us as Christians; just like Jeremiah. We are surrounded by a nation that doesn't want God's name spoken. A nation that shuts out everything we stand for. We are to be strong in this battle; knowing that God is siding with us one hundred percent."Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord." {Psalm 31:24}