a sense of "normalcy"

I hesitated as I wrote the title for this post because, really, nothing in my life feels "normal" right now. We will get there though. I am sure of it.

God's Word states...
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

This verse has been on my mind and heart a lot lately. Unfortunately, for the last few days it had NOT been an encouraging verse. Instead, it has been very, very, very convicting. God finally used our little miss Emma to really bring it home. The last few days she has just been much more rebellious and much more disobedient. Throwing fits and tantrums (thankfully we weren't out and about). Just not her norm. It occurred to me the night before last that God was using Emma as a visual display of my rebellion and disobedience to Him. Even though I wasn't outwardly throwing a fit, inside I was harboring bitterness and resentment and outright distrust. There were many nights of crying myself to sleep. There was no prayer. There was no Bible study. There was no fellowship with God. My mind was NOT stayed on Him; therefore, I was not kept in perfect peace. You would think after five months of Malachi, I would be learning very up close and personally how vital and appropriate it is to simply trust God with my life. Just trust.

Feel free to leave a comment with a verse that you find as an encouragement in times of trials, suffering, and moments of disbelief. I will add them to my index card collection and use it as a tool to keep my mind stayed upon Him--my Sustainer.

Jesus states (in Matthew 6:25-34)...
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? [Marissa, are you listening?]
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith [er, Marissa]? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them [Amen!]. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

So, I seek after Him. I pray for the strength to endure the path He has set before me knowing it won't be easy. It will be very, very hard. I can only do it if my mind is stayed on Him. All that His Word calls me to be I can only accomplish in and through Him. So I will seek. I will study. I will pray. I will trust. He has promised to give me the grace I need for each moment because He saved me and wants to use scared, weak, faltering me to bring glory to His name. Amazing.

(oh, and nothing is really "normal" right now. chi is still in the hospital and we are separated as a family, but i have peace and for a Christian, peace should be the norm. that's as close as i get right now)