Needing Encouragement (and finding it in the least likely place!)

Boy, what a month!

It all started August 26, 2011. I went to my sisters for what was to be a quick trip to pick up her CPU she was loaning me (because I've had this virus thing going on for simply ever). I had our newish (we got it in April) van legally parked on the street. As we were getting ready to leave and head for home, I hear this muffled sound and thought it was one of the neighborhood dogs, then someone knocked on the door. It was a neighbor alerting me to the fact that someone had just hit (and run) our van.Thankfully there were 3 witnesses and the guy was caught about an hour later. Way over the legal limit of .08 blood alcohol content, he blew a .206! We are also thankful he didn't hit anyone else (that we know of) or kill anyone. That was the beginning of my discouragement.

I was stressed, my children were traumatized. I got sick, my son wouldn't eat. We had to cancel a family trip. We were sinking into despair it seemed. Over what, I would later ask myself. I was angry, I had be wronged and I wanted everyone to know about it! And I wanted it fixed RIGHT NOW!

Something had to change! We could keep worrying over this problem.

I asked for encouragement from some of my sisters in faith and one offered me this verse:

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Ex 14:14.

Hold my peace?? Ouch! But I knew it was what I needed to hear. Not exactly the "encouragement" I was looking for though! My sister was wise and allowed the Father to speak through her, and I needed to listen.

So I kept repeating this verse to myself, over and over again those first few days. Then I laid my burden down, and went on with life. Instead of focusing on what had be done to us, to ME, I started listening to others and their struggles.

• One of my friends lost her husband, the father of her two children.
• Hundreds of people lost their homes to fires in Texas.
• People all over the northeast were flooded out.
  

So many more serious troubles than mine. So I prayed for others, instead of myself. Suddenly my problems weren't so important anymore. Vehicles can be replaced.

But who knew that it would be so difficult to get my vehicle fixed or even simply appraised? But alas, here were are 3 weeks past still without word from the other insurance company about fixing or replacing our van. So it seems my "troubles" are trying to sneak back up on me?

Isn't that the way it always is? Just when you think you're doing good, smack, here it comes again! I usually tend to pick my burdens up again (and sometimes again) after laying them down at the Master's feet. But I am determined to leave them lay this time!

I am encouraged by the fact that I do know that my Master is fighting my "battle" for me. I am thankful that I have lost little compared to what I still have! I am thankful that even in my moment of weakness and self-pity, He is still faithful!

So my friends, if and when you find yourself in a discouraging predicament, keep the faith, look around you, pray for others and let your worries melt away in the Sea of God's forgetfulness. It may be hard to do, but look to those who can truly offer you Godly advice, and heed it. For He cares for you.