I saw this image on Facebook today and was quite touched by it. I decided to share it not because I want people to Type Amen, but because I am hoping anyone who sees it will be encouraged by what it represents, like I was when I saw it.
So often we feel like God is slumbering on a tropical island somewhere sipping Mai Tais, and has just left us to struggle on our own. But what we don’t see is that God is working in our lives, He’s constantly laboring behind the scenes to bring out the best in us.
Sometimes, if feels like we are prodded, squeezed, shoved, kicked, knocked around, and fired up till we are about to dissolve into nothingness. At least I do.
But we really must keep in mind that because God is not finished with us yet, the work must go on and on.
For some of us, the work is quite extensive and will take what feels like nearly an eternity to accomplish.
The soft inner tissue of an oyster or clam produces it’s beauty because of irritation,
God refines us like gold and silver was refined long ago. Heating the metal to the point that all that is not precious, any impurities, will be burned off.
God produces beauty in us by refining us, and usually that refining is not pain free.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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. 1Peter 1: 6-7 NIV
In the above verse, I found the end of the verse to be most intriguing.
“may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
No matter how tough it gets, God wants us to praise and glorify Him until Jesus can be seen in us.
I have been really struggling lately with headaches and neck aches. I have been the unfortunate recipient of multiple whiplashes throughout time due to car accidents that weren’t even my fault.
Because of that, I have suffered for years from headaches and neck aches. I am not talking about just a plain old headache. I am talking about migraines that get excruciatingly unbearable at times.
This week has been a tremendously difficult week. I have been extremely frustrated, and don’t quite understand why my neck just seems to stagnate in the same place of pain and suffering over and over.
I have had people praying for me lately, which is very encouraging to know, but does not do anything for the present pain I am experiencing.
When one’s foot or hand hurts it’s the pits, but for the most part one can still somewhat function. I can say that because I finally recovered from a sprained ankle that plagued me for months! Thanks to some praying friends, it is almost completely healed.
But when the pain comes from the neck and head, OUCH! That just completely halts my day, and life.
I don’t know about you, but I can barely concentrate when I am in that kind of pain.
Today, amidst tears and anguish, I cried out to the Lord. A friend trying to encourage me texted me the following scripture.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18: 1-8 NIV
I will ask and ask and ask. I plan on claiming this scripture. Though I am familiar with this parable, sometimes I need that reminder.
I will go to the King of kings, The Almighty, my Heavenly Father, with this claim and will continue to ask until He responds.
In His time.
May the Lord bless you and answer your prayers soon.
By ~ Elizabeth Yalian 2014 ©http://hiseyeisonthissparrow.com.
HIS EYE IS ON THIS SPARROW TOO Still Learning to Lean on God 
This the 2nd post I read today about waiting on The Lord. Certainly, God wants my attention. God bless you, sister!
(Hi Joyce, I just realized today I responded to your comment on the wrong spot and fixed it.) Bless your heart for your sensitivity to His voice. May He continue to direct your path!!
Not typing Amen, but would like to say, if I may that what you have found true in your experience, I have found to be true in mine also. Health wise I have nothing to complain about, for that I am grateful, I do tend to find that it is in the unexpected crises and dilemmas that arise like dark storm clouds out of the blue, that I need patience, and with the squally tantrums of others whose patience with those situations always seems less than mine… I am sure all of us from time to time are tried in that area, when younger I would pray Lord, I have run out patience now, i smile, the whisper in reply, was inevitably, ‘oh but you have.’ .. Almost that The Lord needs to prove to us, before we have any real conviction of it ourselves, that we are more than able, I suppose it is this producing character, which Paul writes about! 😊 I really do have great admiration for those who are able to produce both patience and character in adverse health situations… Where a person us tried on all fronts, so to speak…
What great insight! And so true! Blessings!