October is whooshing by! I’ve been AWOL for a while. A family member had a major surgery and I served as a combination of Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy and Mary Poppins during her recovery.
It was a busy couple of weeks (understatement!) and I’m glad I could be available. For energy and stamina, I relied on a piece of Scripture that, under the circumstances, held new meaning for me.
It came from long ago, during a time of severe famine in Israel (1 Kings 17). The prophet Elijah was sent to a widow’s house. She had just enough flour and oil to make bread for one last meal, for her and her only son. Elijah told her to not be afraid, that if she would provide for him, her household would not go without food. And it was so! Every morning, she would find enough flour and oil in her jars to last another day.
That’s how I felt! I woke super early each morning rested and refreshed (sometimes after being up in the night to help). I was able to keep on top of my daily word count, usually before seven in the morning. And then the day would start, when a certain adorable four-year-old would wake and find me. For lots of reasons, it was a very challenging stretch (complications with the surgery, for one example), and the Lord was right alongside me.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8, niv).
What about you? Have you relied on a piece of Scripture in a way that filled you or sustained you during a hard stretch? If so, which verse?
The Beatitudes have always been my favorite.
I agree with you, Patricia! Seems like we can’t study and focus enough on the Beatitudes! Some verses are so simple, some so counterintuitive. I’ve read that it was a sermon Jesus preached many times. For that reason alone, we should know it well! Thanks for commenting! ~Suzanne
Isaiah 58:10-11 If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Thank you, Diane! I haven’t come across that verse–so full of visuals! I’m going to look it up today and study its context. Grateful for your comment–it’s such a wonderful stretch to learn of others’ “guidepost” Scriptures. Warmly, Suzanne
Isaiah 41:10 has been a promise I have claimed for multiple years now. “Fear thou not; For I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (KJV)
Love that verse, Marilyn R.! Interesting how “Fear not” is nearly always the first words out of an angel’s mouth. How wonderful to have a God who gives us that message! Opposite of the world’s message. Thanks for commenting!