Yesterday’s winner is Jessica! Congratulations, Jessica, Please email me your mailing address and I will get your All Sons and Daughters CD in the mail! Today’s prize is another $10.00 gift card to I-Tunes! So please leave a comment!~
Discouragement often comes before enlargement. As I am writing this, Steve and I are in San Diego. Being here brings back a lot of memories. We lived in San Diego for a few short years and during that time we were walking through some pretty intense trials. Cancer treatments and several surgeries, therapy for me due to childhood sexual abuse, and intense church struggles at the church we were serving…… just to name a few. During those years, there was a beach that became very special to me. I walked, cried and prayed on that beach several times a week. I remember praying many times, “God, I don’t feel your presence nor do I understand your seeming silence, but I choose to praise you anyway.”
Yesterday, I walked that beach again. My eyes filled with tears for a different reason. Looking back, I see how faithful God has been. Out of the horror, God brought hope. Out of the intense pain God brought enlargement. He enlarged our hearts to hold more faith. He enlarged our spirits to experience more joy. He enlarged our ministries by opening doors we never dreamed possible. Psalm 66:10-12 reads, “For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.”
When we choose to praise God above the dark circumstances of our lives – God is pleased. I don’t completely understand, I just know it to be true. Life is frustrating, discouraging and demanding at times. God does sometimes let men ride over our heads. (I’m scheduling a ‘coffee date’ with God when I get to Heaven so ask Him about that.:) He does sometimes allow fires and floods, but when we choose to praise Him above all the chaos. He promises abundance.
In your opinion, what is the place of abundance? Do you think it’s true that discouragement often precedes enlargement? Why, or why not? Leave a comment. I’ll choose one winner for an I-Tunes gift card.
3 Responses
Susan Washabaugh
Yes. When we realize we are dependent on God and a trial brings humility and faith, then enlargement follows. God can use us more when we realize how much we need Him. When we are full of ourselves we are not as ready to be used by God. We can still accomplish things, but not be used by Him.
Natalie Wilson
To me a place of abundance is when I am content in Him. That doesn’t come easy. Trials have brought me to that place. Those trials have taught me to depend on Him in everything. Discouragement came in March this year as road blocks continued in the sale of my town home. I choose to put into practice what I learned from you, Becky at Glen Eyrie. And even down to the last minute I have been praising Him, not knowing the outcome. And I have a closing scheduled for July 16. It has actually been interesting how much peace I have had.
Erica Corbett
For me, The place of abundance has always been where I give up on my agenda and live for His! Being ok with the fact that I may not be where I want to be but its ok to lay that at His feet and just rest in Him and His awesomeness! When I let Him be in control is where I see His abundance even in the midst of so many trials! It seems even in the darkest areas of my life He provides the glimmer of hope I need to make it through and He is just awesome that way and I am falling more and more in love with Him even when it feels like my health and my independence is fading away! But I still have a smile on my face because of Jesus!