[Photos & Words by Robert B.]
Good evening folks, it's just me; sitting here feeling troubled because my school projects in San Antonio are coming to a rapid close and I have no definite prospect for further employment on the horizon. I thought about calling my sister in oder to let her hear me complain. That's one of my favorite hobbies which I am trying to curtail: taking my life's trials out on my sister. I do this because I know she cares and she loves me unconditionally and that gives me an opportunity to make her feel as bad as I do and we all know, misery loves company.
Another thing that misery can accomplish is to make us shake our fists at God. I know, I've been there and on more than one occasion. And now, I am upset once again becuase like numerous times before, my foreseeable future isn't well defined and in fact it seems daunting. I really have no right to feel this way but I do. I have never known starvation but I have complained about not knowing where my next meal was coming from. I have never been homeless but, like now, I have panicked, wondering where I was going to live next. God has never, not been there for me and yet I still continue to worry and grieve about being alone. Thinking about these things I have written the following poem, the following words. In my life they are true; and perhaps, during certain times in your own life, they also ring true. God has not gone anywhere. God still hears; even when, during times of frustration, we try to make Him the villain.
The shortest path to arriving at a pity party in facing a challenge is to resign oneself to berating God with "why me Lord?". Job never gave in to this temptation. I have. I stand guilty. - Robert B.
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Comments: 44
I have been depressed and having a boatload of problems today hasn't helped.
I ask myself this question ever since she left me. I can't even begin to imagine how you feel, nor will I try to tell you that it'll be ok. Things just are...
Thanks for posting this.
Thanks again for the great article!
Christine L.
Somewhere Down the Road
When I lost my first child in a car wreck Dec. of 1965, then lost the baby I was expecting in July 1966, I asked a preacher "Why ME?" And he looked at me and then said "Susan, why NOT you?" It made me stop and think then and still to this day when things happen, I say Yes why NOT me. Maybe because GOD has given me strength and has let me know things that I can share with someone that needs to know that yes it is tough, but you will survive.
I will keep you in my prayers. GOD BLESS
This is a very beautiful expression of feelings just about everyone goes through. God blessed us with friends to help us too. I pray you see your path soon, so that you may know and be comforted. The devil may be prowling seeking to devour, but GOD IS IN CONTROL!
P.S. That's what sisters are for! =:o)
He did what He must. I don't think anyone I know does not question whether or not God knows what He is doing sometimes. But, every Believer I know can tell you how oftern what seemed like the worse time in their life, turned out, down the road to be one of the best. I 've had this proven to me over and over for over 50 years and still
at times wonder "Why me".
Last night I got a call from my cousin Sharon in Atlanta, first call from her in three years. She's like 'Super-Witness' and 'Prayer-Warrior Ultimate". She prayed with me (for me). She prayed that God would have a sign for me today that he was watching out for me. Not only that, but at the end of the prayer she told me to call her this evening and report to her what God had done. That is how sure she was of her power (our power) of prayer.
At 1:00 this afternoon I was still distraught, people I needed answers from were unavailable, material I needed was out of stock and I had to juggle my crew's time inorder to have them work Saturday but save on the OT. And I thought of Sharon's prayer and send to myself: 'see, nothing, no change'.
At 2:20pm my boss called from Houston and asked if I found an apt yet. I said 'right, it's taking all my waking hours just to close out these projects properly for you!' He then said that was good because he was extended the lease on the apt to Nov. 1st to afford me a little more time and a little less stress - and of course this means an additional 5 paychecks. Doing something like this is so far out of my boss' character, I knew God had a hand in it. In addition my boss said they were placing a bid on a new airport project. No guarantee that they'll get it but if they get a positive answer (around the 2nd week of Oct) I would be the one they would want managing it. Maybe we'll get it, maybe we'll won't but what this really was, was another sign that my work is valued and my boss is only going to let me go if he doesn't have the work - he would rather have the work and keep me around. That in itself is a vote of confidence.
When I got home I hesitated calling Sharon back because, one, I didn't get a new job today and two, I didn't even get reassurance on the job I did have. And then I remembered she didn't mention job in her prayer, only that God would do something, provide a sign, that he's got my interests covered. And OMG that's exactly what I received in the guyise of an extra 5 weeks. I'm trusting God to do a lot in the next five weeks! Praise Him.
P.S. That's what prayer warriors are for! =:o)
I was always taught that if you give God your problems than you leave it there & move on, which is harder than you think I know. In my life spiritly God has answered a lot of my prayers. If we take them back after giving them to him than you truely haven't trusted God to answer that prayer. Do you understand what I am saying. Leave it at God hands trust in him that he will follow through. Loved your poem. Life is strange & hard, the unknown is even more frightening. Your heart & soul is good. He will provide. God knows your heart & soul, he has a plan for us all, he has given gifts for us to master than to share with all. I wish you peace & love. Keep the faith. Love your honesty.
warm wishes for your future. Blesings always dee-dee
10*
Over a year ago I was complaining about my situation. Then I started really looking at myself and the situation was actually caused by me. I also looked at the condition of other people and began to know that my life wasn't bad. I have watched many of my friends give up everything they have to do missionary work and completely rely on God.
So now I look at my life a whole lot differently and try real hard to listen to what God is trying to teach me. I have went hungry, I have been homeless and I have on occassion lost every material thing I had. Through it all I still had my health, I still had a job and I still had my family. I also turned to the Bible and read:
Luke 12:22 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for your body, what you shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them; how much more are ye better than fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say to you, that Soloman in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be doubtful of mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the Kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 For where your teasure is, there your heart will be also.
My prayers are with you.
Blessings
Sometimes we actually revel in feeling bad, sad, hurt, lonely, rejected. Think of the popularity of hurtin' songs.
Sometimes we are also in the habit of authoring our own misery by continuing to do the things that lead us to the same place, emotionally, time and again, by force of habit.
I think this is the root cause of the feeling you captured in this poem.
Sometimes I think God is answering our question with a question: "Why you?"
Whether or not those pan out, I think it is clear that life continues to provide all kinds of options for you. No doubt, this is part of God's plan. I tend to think that prayer works more on us than it does on God. That is to say God's plan for us was always in the works, always moving forward, and it's not as though our prayer gets His attention and He goes: "Oops, forgot about ol' Robert down in San Antonio, better through him a bone."
Rather I think our prayers help us to open our eyes, clear the "pity party" blinkers away and see the plan as it unfolds before us.
Either way, I am glad to know that your in His hands and feeling upbeat about it.
And you know your friendship helps keep me positive also.