STRONG

My word for 2022 – is …STRONG

In the middle of a situation you might ask – What is the lesson here? What possible good can come of this really ugly – downright crappy direction I seem to be heading? Sound familiar?

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I had a very traumatic event happen in my life about three years ago. One that took me by surprise and spun me around in circles for good period of time trying to figure out what just happened, why and what next? I felt like I’d been run over by a big dump truck and then just for fun they backed up and ran over me again, and again and again – seemed like it was just running in circles – running over me. I was sore and tender in places I never knew existed – like the first work out when you find muscles you never knew were there – and boy are they screaming at you – HEY STOP – this hurts. The ‘what’ honestly is not as important as what happened afterwards.

So as soon as I feel myself recovering Covid hits and the weight of that entire thing just began to threaten to drag me under again. Soon my health was telling me – time to do something here. See - little did I know but stress is something that escalates certain things in our health. Let me just stop here a second and give you a PSA – if you have had chicken pox, you’re over 50 and you are under stress – you better consider getting the shingles vaccine because stress can better your chances of getting shingles. If you are predisposed to high blood pressure (it’s in your family DNA) and you’re under stress – look out – High Blood pressure has a really excellent chance of getting to you. If you are pre-diabetic and you have stress – diabetes can come knocking just anytime, because stress can and in many cases does elevate your A1C. Nobody told me these things in advance but I tell you right now (These facts came straight from a Medical professional to me) – I am sharing with anyone who will listen. Figure out how to de-stress your life. I know I know – it’s just not that easy. I agree. Find a way because your health is WORTH IT!

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

So now back to where we were. Things keep adding on to the tower of terror in my life. I stressed about my job, I stressed about getting corvid and life just became so much different. Little by little I got back to where I needed to be. What did I do – well I did things I knew for ME would help with stress, would help me recover as quick as I could. I can’t tell you what to do for your situation (stress) that’s up to you to figure out. I will say this – prayer and praying intentionally really helps. Tell God exactly what you want and need. I prayed for protection of my company, I prayed specifically for the health of my family and I called them all out by name – I asked God to protect my family and my friends, me and my loved ones from this thing both physically and financially. Now mind you – I did have four friends lose jobs over Covid but I’m happy to say all are game fully employed now and are doing good. You may not believe in this but I’ve walked through my office before laying hands on desks, phones, computers and plead the blood of Jesus on the company and all who work there. I prayed blessings for the company and it worked.

I also talked to friends and family who helped allow me to vent and also to have an understanding ally, someone on my side that understood how things can get brutal.

2 Samuel 10:12 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

I made mistakes in my attempts to get better. I made wrong choices. Those choices are learning opportunities for us too though, God allows trials He allows events to happen in order for us to gain something. All the events in your life from birth to death collectively make you who and how you are. Don’t get mad because of these hurdles in life. Don’t be mad at change. Sometimes the changes are the things that help us get sharper. I want to repeat something I heard in church that resonates with me to this day. In the process of creating a strong metal like iron, first the metal is melted, super-hot so it becomes liquid, when that liquid is sufficiently hot and molten the impurities rise to the top and are skimmed off. So when life heats us up, Jesus can skim off the yucky stuff from our top and what’s left is good and like iron. I’ll own that. Yes – skim off the muck and leave me sharp and ready for the next chapter.

2 Samuel 22:3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.

Jesus is so intentional, so on our side, it’s easy to slide in to a rut thinking about how out of control things can be. Rather than fight we give up and dwell on the junk - pointing at me! Guilty. How many times to do we ask Him to take the mantle then we jerk it right back out of His hands… Guilty again!

Out of the turmoil came lessons, in the middle of it I felt lost and weak. Moving past it I felt like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I felt stronger and more alive. I felt more like myself – but better in many ways, on the comeback trail, mending in many ways.

2 Samuel 22:18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

I think it depends on the day and sometimes the hour if I would answer that I AM strong. Most days I do feel it. I know because I know God is with me – protecting me, guarding me, guiding me. The song Jesus loves me comes to mind…. “I am weak but He is strong, Yes… Jesus loves me” I feel like I get strength from Him, I know wisdom comes from the lessons and from understanding a God that wants the best for us. His best is STRONG. His best is LOVE, His best is WISE, His best is CALM…

Dear Heavenly Father, Today I come with thanksgiving and ask that You stand with us and keep us strong. Lord let this year be a good year for strength for all reading this. Help us find You in all things we experience. Thank You in advance for strength in You. In Jesus Name –Amen.