Life is Not a Snapshot

Let's get right to it, shall we? I have numerous friends who are going through some pretty stressful situations. As such, and being that I love them dearly AND the fact they have all been there for me at one time or another...I want to help them, but don't know how.

So I turn to the only thing that gets me through. Yep...gonna lay some religion on ya!

First let me say right upfront I do not even pretend to be able to quote various verses of scripture at the drop of a hat or anything like that. I have better memory when it comes to singing the Schoolhouse Rocks song about the Preamble or Conjunction Junction. Nonetheless, I DO know who is in charge of my life (after a lifelong attempt of trying to hold onto the reigns myself) so I DO feel 'qualified', for lack of a better word, to remind you of who is also in charge of **your** life. That's right. I'm talking to you. All of you. :-) It's stuff you already know, but has apparently been suffocated by self-doubt and fear. I've been there. We all have. I still happens to me on certain days.

I've always said and meant that I believe in God. It's easy to say it. However, seems I've always picked what He was in charge of. I think I took for granted all the ordinary miracle things He put in my life. Yes, I was thankful for His role, but I never really gave him credit for all that must have gone into the extravagant planning on His end to make it all so wonderful. It was the times when I started slipping down the mountain with no safety rope in sight that He would be the first one I turned to yelling, "Help me! Where are you?!". Sufficed to say, you can't just pick and choose when you believe. Either you do or you don't.

Next point: You also can't say you believe in One and not the other. That's right. I'm talking about Satan. You can't believe in God without believing in Satan. When we go through these challenges in life, he is always (**always**) there to make them seem either bigger than they are OR call us failures just by having these challenges. This being tells us we have no chance of overcoming said challenges and that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Oftentimes he offers us "outs" by way of questionable options we otherwise wouldn't consider if our head were focused on what is true and real. He reminds us of all the times we've failed before and brings our self-confidence to all-time lows. He may even tell us that it's ridiculous to turn to God. "People will think you are some 'Jesus-freak' if you talk about believing or turn to Him!" he says.

That is NOT anything else but the voice of Satan. And he is strong. And often comes in the form of very appealing choices. So spotting him isn't always easy...I know. He gets the better of me on more occassions than I care to admit. Denying these challenges or being afraid to confront them gives the power to the wrong one. I totally believe that. Not ONLY that, I believe the power grows and becomes even more overwhelming for us to deal with. Whew...sorry to get all deep and serious. (I warned you I was going to get 'all religious' on you!).

Funny thing though...as soon as I turn to the thing that always has a way of changing my mood, he is gone and hope always returns. My faith in myself returns. All by way of music. It provides the words and outlooks I'm unable to come up with when my character is being attacked and poor choices are being offered.

There's a song in particular that has perfect words for my friends right now who are struggling with decisions and detours in their lives. I know it is so difficult to see all the branches reaching out to you when you are being swallowed by your quicksand of challenges. But they are there. It's your choice to put the power and control right back where it should be. And maybe it's just by listening to some music that reminds you...you are NOT alone. You WILL get through this. You are MUCH stronger than you ever thought possible. Sometimes the blindfold of faith is the only thing that gets us through. It stops you from giving up when you can go much further than you imagined. I know.
Example? Well okay. There's a couple lines in this particular song (see bottom of post) that say:

If there’s a God who loves you, where is He now?

Maybe there are things you can’t see

And all those things are happening

To bring a better ending .

One of my personal proofs: We have had five miscarriages throughout our years together. The pain, both physical and emotional, that came with those seemed unbearable at the time. I couldn't imagine why I was having to go through this. And while I still do not understand, I have proof in the outcome of His overall plan with Ben and Shelby. My unanswered prayers gave us Ben and Shelby. They bring light to every day of my life and I can't imagine it without them. And really the prayers weren't unanswered. They were in the works. And oh what works He produced!

Another way of looking at it is He does NOT take shortcuts. We are very meticulous creatures, us humans. We take a lot of attention to detail. No way on earth are things going to be a cakewalk all the time. If you have seen that show "Life" that's on the Discovery Channel you know what I mean. There are so many lifeforms out there He created that are simply amazing to watch and that operate and the most intricate and precise ways. I can't tell you how many times while watching we've said, "How did that happen? How'd it do that?!" It's a reminder of His all-encompassing power to do make what seems to us to be impossible...very, very possible.

So He is still with you. He is working on you and your prayers. Unanswered prayers are sometimes the best gift. And some prayers just require more prep work to get them just right in the end. Your most valuable gifts are right in front of you so focus on them.

I know there have been times where I have been so scared of the outcome of various circumstances. "But if that happens, then I won't be able to...", etc... . It's this leap of faith by which I dare to see myself on the other side of these challenges. This time is just a snapshot. There are so many more to add to the album of your life.

None of us knows what is in store. But, I DO know that the negative voice inside our heads needs to be muted. It is trying to bring us further down. Don't let it. Put on some music. Write yourself some sticky notes and put them on your mirror or steering wheel to read every morning that remind you this is just the dark before the morning.

This is the only 'decent' video of the song I was referring to that I could find. It's not great, but the song is.



Click here to hear the background story on the making of this song..

Always remember and never forget: "Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”