Confidence in Everything

In the aftermath of horrendous weather and damaged property and death, it may not seem God is for us or on our side. To some, it may feel the exact opposite. How could He allow this to happen? If God is for me, why am I suffering like this? I've lost my home, all my belongings, all just before the holiday season. How is God for me in the midst of this? I can hear the questions, the concerns, as I watch The Weather Channel reporting the devastation left after Sandy's jaunt through the eastern seaboard.

I love the Scriptures Mary DeMuth points out in the chapter of Everything entitled, "Set Aside Worry." These are taken from the NASB:

If a river rages, he is not alarmed; he is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth. Job 40:23

Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident. Psalm 27:3

I know I don't live in the path of the storm that has raged its way across New Jersey and Connecticut and New York City and all the areas it has hit. That doesn't mean I don't know what it's like to weather a storm or can't relate to death and destruction. I've faced many storms in my own life, both self-inflicted and naturally occurring. And I've had to choose where my confidence would lie.

It will always be in Jesus, my Everything. God is in control. Even when it seems the circumstances of life are overwhelming and He's gone missing, I know God is always there. His Word says that He will never leave nor forsake us. It also reminds us that He is not in the storms. He is not in the fire, the wind, or the earthquake. It's His still small voice that answers in the midst of the chaos of life. That is where we shall find our confidence, our faith, our trust. In the still small voice of God. Reminding us that He does care.

Everything is a book that has changed many lives already. There are near one hundred of us on Mary's launch team. If you've kept up with my posts or have followed my Pinterest board, you've heard us repeatedly endorse this book. I have yet to hear one person say it didn't impact their life in one way or another. So, grab a highlighter, a pen, a cup of coffee or tea or whatever else you enjoy drinking, and pick up a copy of Mary's book today. Find out exactly what you give and what you gain when you make Jesus your Everything.

This post is part of a Blog Tour for Everything. Feel free to click here to read more posts from the launch team.

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Proverbs 24 - Small Strengths

"If you faint in the day of adversity,

  Your strength is small." - Proverbs 24:10

We've woken to the news that a mile-wide tornado ripped apart the southern states in the past 24 hours. It's disheartening.

We've all faced times in our lives where tornadoes have torn through our souls and shredded our hearts to unidentifiable pieces. Death of loved ones, particularly unexpected death. Loss of personal property to the forces of nature or fire. Desires seemingly squashed and never coming to fruition. These are all disheartening.

Or are they challenges God desires to use to draw us closer to Him and to test our strength? Will we faint in the day of adversity, or will we find our strength in Him? 

When my plane took off this morning, the world below was dismal. Tornado coverage splayed across television screens in the terminal. Clouds covered the skies. And yet, I had the hope of what lay above the circumstances to see me through to the other side. 

As we rose above the clouds, the world's trauma faded to blue skies and the bright and shining sun. And God gently whispered, "Despite the clouds of life, the Son is always shining." 

I encourage you to look beyond the gray clouds of your circumstances today to find your strength in God's Son, Jesus, who is always with you. Through His strength, you can do all things! Seek His light today, and let it shine in your life.

Photograph Copyright 2011 Alycia W. Morales