Such a time as this

Today I had the opportunity to talk to a good friend for over 2 hours on the phone.  She was so encouraging and I was so thankful that we had the chance to talk.  She shared past and current struggles with me and although they are not the same as mine they are similar.  God is growing her and her family in such a way that you just smile from ear to ear when you see His fingerprints on her life.  There is no mistaking that he has brought her through the fire. 

I also talked to another friend and was encouraged by her struggles.  I know, it sounds kinda wrong to be encouraged by another person's struggle, but I was.  She is a new friend that I am so glad that the Lord has placed in my life.  She has issues, I have issues, but the cool thing is that we can talk to each other and relate to each other because of them.

It is no secret that this past week has been a little chaotic.  Troy was laid off, the kids all had doctor's appointments to the tune of $163 (definitely not in the budget), Troy went to the ER for chest pains and spent the night.  He is fine by the way but it was just an added stress.  I have blogged and even posted facebook status updates on how the Lord is good no matter what.  It is true, I really believe that.  I have had several calls, texts and emails praising me for my faith in this time.  The thing is it is not me, it is the Lord.  When Troy lost his job the peace that I felt was so overwhelming, more then any anxiety that I have ever encountered.  How could I not have a strong faith when I feel His presence wrapped around me in this very moment.

There are two important things I want to point out.  One is that the Lord has changed my relationships over the past several months.  I didn't get it at first but I am seeing it now.  He has put me in with a network of believer's that are going through similar issues as myself.  Or have been through them for that matter.  The other thing is that God has never left me.  He doesn't do bad things to people but He allows trials so that in the end we will be able to see how He carried us through it.  He has already laid out a specific group of friends and circumstances for such a time as this.  I know that in the end I will cry out to Him like David did when he said " Who am I Lord, that you have brought me and my family this far?". This has turned into one of my favorite passages.  I rest on it knowing that the Lord can and will do the same for me!

 ¹⁶ "Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
       "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁷ And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God.  ¹⁸ "What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, ¹⁹ O LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.
 ²⁰ "There is no one like you, O LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ²¹ And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? ²² You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.
 ²³ "And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, ²⁴ so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, 'The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel's God!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you." 1 Chronicles 17:16-24