The Struggles I See

So here we are, 120 days from our 2nd trip to Disney, and I can hardly keep my mind on much else! :) It's not really that bad, but there are moments when I begin to see Hidden Mickeys where there is no possibility that they are there...and no, I do NOT need professional help - I get all the support I need through my allears family on Facebook. I am not even the biggest fan out there, and somehow that comforts me!

Even with the excitement of waiting for May to get here, there is a lot of drama going on around me right now. Not in our family specifically. In fact, our family is actually in a very sweet spot, waiting on the Lord and leaning on each other. It's not perfect, and we still don't where He is leading us, but we are finally ok with waiting on Him to show us the next piece of His plan in His time.

Unfortunately, I have many friends who are in the valley of despair and are dealing with very difficult circumstances. It breaks my heart to see anyone I care for suffer, but all the more so when they are totally innocent in the matter and are just victims of other people's selfishness and sin. I wish we would remember that every decision we make has tremendous impact on everyone in our sphere of influence. We are like pebbles tossed in a lake, and our ripples will touch everyone between us and the shoreline. There is no such thing as doing what's best for yourself, because we are all connected; your "personal" decisions affect many.

The injustice of the world is often hard to endure, even when we as children of the Living God have His promises to rest in. I have to admit, it is a HUGE struggle for me to lay my prayers at the throne and just walk away. I'm a doer. I'm a fixer. He knows this. And I believe that He made me this way for a reason! That's why I know He understands my struggle, but He also wants me to grow in that knowledge and know when to be still and know that HE is God.

I have a friend who has a sibling in jail, two friends raising their children while their fathers are in jail. I have friends that are dealing with a teenage daughter in a downward spiral of self-destruction. One dear friend is fighting tooth and nail to save his marriage. And yet another is dealing with the sins of her earthly father and the hurtful judgment of an entire community.

Some of these situations are staggering and unbelievably unfair.But one thing that's in the front of my mind tonight is that they are all so very heartbreaking to God. I know that as much as we are hurting, that He is hurting right along with us. The crazy thing that I often just stand in awe of, is that God sees ALL sides of these circumstances. He knows every party involved intimately, and He loves every one of His children.

We mere mortals tend to want judgment and justice. But more than anything, God wants restoration. Whether we like it or not, and definitely whether we understand it or not, EVERY SINGLE PERSON GETS A SECOND CHANCE. Yes, every single sin is forgivable to the Lord. He will restore the murderer as quickly as the gossip. He will forgive the adulterer as easily as the "little white liar". And He will heal the addict as completely as the overeater.

On the flipside of that coin - and I think the part many refuse to believe - is that God sees every single sin in the same light. Gossiping is a sin as much as is murder. Lying is just as serious as adultery. And gluttony is as despicable to Him as drug and alcohol abuse. People must remember that God is holy, and we are all but filthy rags in front of Him without the blood of Jesus Christ to cover us. And we should not wish for judgment and justice on others unless we are ready to receive it ourselves.

Our God is amazing, isn't He? I hope that some of those I'm praying for read this and remember: He holds everything together, including the most fragile heart.