Hello there!
I know it has been a while since my last blog. These past couple of weeks have been SO busy for me. I am just getting back to school and I am getting ready to start my last semester of college! It is such a bittersweet time and overwhelming to say the least. I did not really know what to blog about, so I thought I would share some of my thoughts about a book that I read/finished up a few months ago that has really changed my heart and perspective on my relationship with God.
For the longest time, my friends encouraged me to read a book called, The Shack. I have never really been a big reader, but for some reason I was interested in what this book was about. The main character in the book, Mack, is a man who found himself in an awful situation. While on a camping trip, Mack’s youngest daughter, Missy, was abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Throughout the book he has the hardest time dealing with this pain and is constantly blaming himself for the death of his daughter. In this midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to the shack for a weekend. Mack learns that by going back and dealing with this pain, he can find peace through God’s unconditional love.
In the darkest places, God is always with you. No matter what pain or suffering you may go through, it is comforting to know that He is right there with you. When you are put in a tough situation, you should never walk away even it its hard because God only puts you through situations he knows you can handle. He would NEVER leave you alone. Mack did not want to go back to the shack because of bad memories and he was scared of the pain. He decided to do something he had not done in a while, and that was to trust in the Lord. Little did he know that he would find God in the most unexpected place–in the midst of his pain.
"TRUST in the lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." – Proverbs 3:5-6
This book is very deep and made me think a lot about my life and my relationship with God. Although this book drags you through some heartache and pain, in the end it is very inspiring. This book reminded me that no matter what life brings, or what challenges you go through along the way, God is always there and especially in the darkest times in your life.
“It is so easy to get sucked into the if only game, and playing it is a short and slippery slide to despair.”
We all go through different trials in our lives and sometimes these situations are a test of faith. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I wish I could re-do certain events in my life that have lead me down paths of heart ache and pain. Although this is impossible, I always waste my time and energy focusing on what I could have done differently in certain situations, just like Mack. I start asking the question “what if” and this becomes so draining and overwhelming. I have learned that God places obstacles in our lives as a test and to see if we will turn to him during the hard times. Worrying will not erase a time or situation but God can give you peace and healing through those times.
Quotes from the book that I love:
“Growth means change and change involves risks, stepping from the known to the unknown.”
“Most birds were created to fly. Being grounded for them is a limitation within their ability to fly, not the other way around…you on the other hand, you were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around.”
“Living unloved is like clipping a birds wings and removing its ability to fly…and if its left unresolved for very long, they can almost forget that they were ever created to fly in the first place.”
Until next time…God Bless!
P.S- You should read this book 🙂
