Thank Him for Sustaining You!

Yesterday, my husband found a photograph of me from about 10 years ago. Immediately, all the memories from the day that image was taken, came rushing back to the forefront of my mind. I had my oldest daughter Kyla with me; she was the only child back then and we were posing in front of our red Ford Contour. Even though the body of the vehicle looked nice enough, I remember how loud that thing was every time I cranked it up. The engine light never went off and we needed to get our brakes fixed.

But, as a young family without a whole lot of money to spare, we couldn't afford the high cost of the repairs. So anyway, on the day that photo was snapped, I had called my husband on the phone laughing, though I was honestly frustrated deep inside. "Babe, tell me it's gonna get better," I said to him, hoping he could say something inspirational to cheer me up a little and help me feel better. Both Kenya and I were convinced that the vehicle was on its last leg, and would conk out any day. But you know what? Even though our little car wasn't in the best shape, it lasted up until we were able to get some things fixed on it, and eventually get something altogether better.

From experiences like that, I've learned that the Lord doesn't always immediately make things "new" in our lives; yet, He does, without fail, sustain us through our tough seasons. I'm reminded of the passage of scripture in Deuteronomy 8:4 that talks about how the Father took care of the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness for 40 years. Scripture says, "Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years." 

I don't recall reading anything about the Children of Israel going on any "shopping sprees," but the Lord made it so the clothes they did have, didn't wear out.

Often, we make the mistake of getting so fixated on wanting something new, different, and better, that we forget to praise God for holding things together for us right where we are.

You ought give Him glory for sustaining you in your wilderness and favoring you  in your dry place. There might be a "famine" in the land, but don't worry about the famine. Just give God thanks for feeding you in the midst of famine; giving you peace in the midst of confusion; giving you joy in the midst of sorrow; and meeting your needs in the midst of lack.

One day you'll look back on that turbulent period in your life and declare, "If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, I would have been swallowed up, but His grace and mercy kept me through it all!"

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!

Dianna Hobbs

www.empoweringeverydaywomen.com