Late one Saturday afternoon we noticed a cow in our pasture that didn’t belong to us. By the brand we were able to identify who it belong to. We made a phone call to let them know we had her. The next morning we fed her some cubes, checked her water then headed to church.
When we returned home that afternoon, she had gotten herself into a bind. She had gotten her head stuck between the fence and post. After some finagling the guys were able to get her loose. She’s one of those, this wasn’t the first time she had wondered from home and gotten into trouble. She was one of those, who lead other cattle astray, tries to hook anyone around, and that one you can never predict…..she’s the one you warn the newbies on the ranch about. “Watch out for #44, she’ll hook ya.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if our problems had numbers on them like cattle. If we could recognize what problem was heading our way and know how to handle it? We’d steer clear of some, know to be prepared with a horse and rope for others, and even some could be handled with ease.
After not sleeping for three nights because let’s face it, I was consumed with not just a problem but many problems, some of which were not my own. I knew I was getting no where! Time to do what works, time to go back to the list of ALWAYS.
- Always take it to the Lord.
- Always go back and remember those problems in the past. They may have been huge at the time but most were not as big as when we first faced them.
- Always allow God to work.
- Always realize you will be more sensitive because you are hurting, it’s easy to want to make others hurt too. Sometimes we aren’t even aware that we are snapping at someone.
- Always remember God is bigger than your problem: Be careful that you are not chasing down people on the street to tell them how horrible your life is….pretty soon you’ll have no friends and even bigger problems. Instead, think of how God worked things out in your past. God has handled this before, He will do it again. God is no stranger to problems and no stranger to you.
- Always find Godly counsel. If a problem is pretty big, you will need to find trust worthy friends who will pray. We have several couples we’ve learned to rely on through the years.
- Always expect God’s answer. It may not be what you think, He may ask you to do something unexpected, just to show you that HE was the one who took care of it. HE was the one that provided. HE was the one who delivered.
- Always ask forgiveness, if you were the one who caused the problem in the first place. The problem you are facing might not even involve forgiveness but if it does, take care of it quickly. There’s nothing better than getting something off your chest.
- Always trust. God does call us to bear one another’s burdens at times but He never ask us to be God. He says to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.
1 Peter 5:7. He didn’t design us to do it alone. He didn’t make us to be worriers but warriors.
- Always listen and then do! When we have a problem we are looking for solutions. Desperate decisions are made in desperate times, so don’t become desperate! Slow down! Know His voice so you will know what to do. He won’t ask you to do something outside His word or His character. But, at some point you will have to DO something. Yes, some problems go away on there own but some will just be waiting for you to take care of them.
If you ever find yourself, kind of like that cow, between the fence and the post….try the list of always. Please leave a comment below and let me know how God has given you an answer, when you were facing a problem. And please, sign up for my email list. Thank you so much.
Norma, i love the: “look what He’s done in the past”. When you have seen a miracle at any point in your own life it makes it so easy to “let go and let God” !
Trying to explain away a miracle to yourself , rationalize it, over analyze it- I think is a most insidious thought process. Best just to jump for joy and relish in what it really means – God has our backs !
Donna, You are so right! There are definately those times when you just can’t explain it. Just want to say, I feel pretty honored that you read my post…..I love how you use words…insidious…I may have to use that! Love you!
I love reading these, all of them and this one particularly is such a good reminder and ALWAYS need to hear it over and over again. Our flesh is just sometimes really hard to break away from and realize yesterday, now and tomorrow, ALWAYS GOD!!!!!!! , gets me thru all things. Thank You for the reminder… Bless You….
Thank you Nancy, bless you too. By the way ALWAYS GOD…..love it!
I had been with the same company my entire career since college. I had worked very hard over almost 7 years to set myself up for success. I loved what I did. However the past 2 years I found it to be more stressful than ever and a very negative environment. I became unhappy and it began to impact my marriage and home life in a negative way. I was paid very well, was leading my own team, and had a very bright future. But I knew I needed a change and I needed it I quickly. But at the time we were about 2 months out from closing on our new home we had been building and about 3 months out from our second child. So needless to say it was not good timing. I had looked for a new Job every single day and had applied for a few different jobs. I found myself convincing myself and wife about a position I had no business applying for. I began to pray about it. One day out of no where a regional level position with a reputable company had been posted and it was in the same town. So I gave it a shot hoping I would get a chance. Well I did and I was offered the position. But it was a position I new wasn’t the best for me and it was for about $8,000 less in salary. If you recall earlier, my situation wasn’t the best for taking a large pay cut and switching health benefits. My wife supported me and said she trusted my decision and knew it would be the right one either way. The night before I had to make the decision I asked for God to take it in his hands. I gave him my commitment that I would do what he wanted me to and asked for guidance. The next day I opened my bible app hoping I would be given some guidance. It just so happen the be Luke 10:3 which states “now go , and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves” I knew right away that God was telling me to go and take what he has put before me. So I text my wife and told her to look up the verse. She said yeah I already saw it. It happened to be the same verse that was in a devotional email that had came out that day from our church. The two had nothing to do with each other. WOW. The message was clear. I had my mind made up and took the leap. I put it in his hands and trusted him. Two months later after leaving everything I knew for less money and joining the new company I was offered an upper level managent position which paid a little more than what I was making before I made the change. God asked me to trust him and do something that did not make any sense and because I did he rewarded me for that. I will never forget that moment in my life and I thank him every day. I love sharing that story.
As always, great words of wisdom. I always feel that the more dilapidated my relationship with God is and my trust in Him the more dilapidated my life is. I feel like I must “keep swimming” as Dory says. He has taken me from the lowest of the lows to amazing hights! You dont know how much I needed your words tonight. Thanks and blessings!
Your always list is just what I need . At times I forget God is bigger than my problems and I just need to be quite and listen. Thanks Norma.
Norma I am so enjoying the messages you are bringing. I read them and it is you, thank you for sharing. I am experiencing new and wonderful moments as I am coming back to where I know I should be, with God.
Sonja, Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me. I love you my sweet friend.