Excerpt from a note to a friend :
Sounds like things are a bit rough at the moment, but I want you to know that I love you dearly and I am thankful to have you as a friend! Hang in there! I hope that it encourages you to know that I am praying for you.
During hard times, there is nothing more important than staying in the Word and daily turning each of our trials over to a Sovereign God who loves us. (So that our hurt does not cause us to stumble!)
I’m kinda going through a rough time myself, and I have a few thoughts I’m clinging to today in my difficult circumstances… I hope that you don’t mind me sharing them with you:
Sometimes it’s hard for me to think of God as loving and as a friend. When relationships break around me, sometimes I project that God must be turning his back on me, too. But, this isn’t so! It helps me to remember that there is nothing about me that deserved salvation – that I was an enemy of God! Yet because of Christ’s blood, I am now called His friend…
(John 15:15-16 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.)
…and His child.
(Galatians 3:23-29 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.)
Even as I read the passage above from Galatians, I’m sitting here thinking “what does it mean to be ‘clothed in Christ’ – what does that look like? how can my actions reflect being washed in Christ’s blood when I am hurting and don’t even feel like being around those who are contributing to my stress?” How am I supposed to be acting, despite my hurt?
(snip … personal information about me… point being, I’m right there with you in this struggle)
I hope that sharing these verses and thoughts were of of encouragement to you. They are to me, even as it feels like a battle to even turn over my anxiety…
(1 Peter 5:6-8 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.)
…to God – like a chore to do this. As I read this verse, I’m thinking maybe that’s why the verse starts out talking about humility before casting anxiety. I am convicted that that’s what it takes for me to turn things over to God – humility. It is prideful thinking when I say “I’m a strong woman! I can handle these things and this stress!” In my overwhelming circumstances, I try to claim that “I can do all hings through Him who strengthens me” and yet I forget the rest of this passage – that to receive God’s strength, I must first humble myself and have a gentle spirit… this is so hard for me!
(Phillippians 4:5-13 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. God’s Provisions But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me;
indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.)(snip – side note – coordinating dropping off an item)
Thinking of you and praying for you. I don’t want to add to any of your stress… but, please let me know if you ever want to go out for a beer and just have fun fellowshipping together… or if there anything else that I can do that would be helpful and not a hindrance to you.
Much love,
Your friend,
Sarah Joy Albrecht