We are always facing decisions… Yes, No, Right, Left, Up, Down, Black, White, etc. Although, it would seem that at times of difficulty, trouble, suffering, we tend to make the irrational decisions because of feeling and/or emotion. So why does this happen? What do we do about it?
We are the branches, right? (John 25:5-8) So that then means that God the Father is the Gardener. If we are plants, in order to grow we have to be trimmed, pruned, cut down to size. How can a plant grow more fruit if it isn’t trimmed? Getting pruned hurts, and we feel as though we are lacking progress, “I’ve lost my joy,” as if it could really sincerely be lost… “This is too hard,” crying, “I feel unstable,” crying, “I’m mental,” more crying. It feels like an up and down cycle of “bad” and “good.” What we really should be doing is thanking God for these really seriously “sucky” times, times when we’re prone to hearing all the LIES. When we get Cut Down to Size that is when we Prove Who We Really Are!
Instead of thinking of it as 1 step forward, 2 steps back, or a up and down roller coaster, think of it as a climb to a plato. You feel like you aren’t growing, like you’ve fallen down flat, back to where you started, but this is the time to learn. How will you react when you get irritated for no reason? Irrational vs. Rational. How will you react to the lies being thrown into your mind like flaming arrows? Believe vs. Overcome. This becomes a choice we make, we make these choices already and usually choose the first thing that comes to mind because WE are WEAK trying to do it on our own. Stop and think, what am I called to, WHO DO I WANT TO BE? The person that lashes out when things are hard, the person that isolates themselves, NO! I will have joy from the Lord, I will be kind because of the Lord, I will be gentle because of the Lord… Whatever it is you need, He has it and all you have to do is ask. It feels tedious to actually try when you don’t care or don’t want to try anymore, but come on, What Are YOU Made of? A little bit of you and A WHOLE LOT of the Holy Spirit.
So this is my Thank you to my Father in Heaven,
Thank you for the difficulties, for showing me what I ought to do, not what I feel like doing. Thank you for proving to me time and time again that you are living and well… and with me. Thank you for cutting me down to size so that I can grow again and again. Stronger and better than I ever imagined, learning to live and breath your breath and not my own. Praise You for hard times, all the tests and trials, otherwise I wouldn’t know what I was made of.
Love,
Your Strong Radiant Daughter. xox
