Still...a small voice

FIRE

I have had this chip on my shoulder.....
I want answers and to be honest.....
I don't want to wait any longer.

I feel that I have done my part...
Read my Bible daily?.......check
seek the Lord daily?.....check
Tithe faithfully?.....check
Raise my children to know the Lord?....check

I have followed all of the requirements...
Now, where are my blessings?

I don't mean any disrespect...
I love Christ with my entire being...
But, I'm tired of waiting.


Well, today as I was walking....
I decided to ask Him....

Where are my answers God?
I serve you....
My husband serves you.
My children serve you.

I have had enough of the struggle...
it has been 4 months....
Four LONG months.

When Michael and I both had heard from God...
We decided that he would resign from his teaching job.
Michael was frustrated and withdrawn...
Our family was feeling the impact of that.
I had heard from God.....
He asked me...."Do you trust me?"
"Do you believe that I will provide?"
"Will you give it to me...Let go?"

Of course...my response was, Yes.
Immediately, I thought that a new opportunity would be knocking at the door...
Why else would God ask me to let go?

It has been 4 months....
I am tired of waiting...
so today... I asked God

Where are you?
Why did you ask Michael to resign...if there is no plan?
Do you realize how long it has been?


And then, suddenly...
all of these things began bombarding me....

Because we obeyed God.....
Michael has found a peace in himself that he had been missing...
He is more relaxed...more connected....
more involved.

Because we obeyed God.....
I have learned to relinquish control...
I have learned patience...
I have learned just how strong my marriage is....

Because we obeyed God.....
My children have come to me...
to say that they are inspired by our faith...
that we are an example of how to stick it out...
how to trust and believe...together.

Because we obeyed God....
we have learned that God is faithful....
that what He said, He will do.

Because we obeyed.....
We have experienced that God is the God of Provision
That He will meet EVERY ONE of our needs.

As I returned home from my walk...
That chip was gone....
My heart was full...

God had Michael resign .....
Not to throw us into the fire...
But to use the fire to refine us....
To allow us to test Him at His word...

To bring our family,
Our marriage.
Our relationship with Him...
to a new level.

Our God is faithful...
I wouldn't trade these past 4 months...
Not even for the greatest job opportunity.

We are still believing that He will provide the perfect job...
at the perfect time...
But in the meantime....
We will trust and wait...
and continue to grow.

And maybe, just maybe we will bask in the flame...
Because we know...the heat produces the glory.

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.....1Peter1:6-7



Changed by the Fire,
shelly