“If I Only Had A Brain”

Okay, so, how many of you were singing that song from “The Wizard Of Oz” when you read the title of this post?  I was as I was typing it, and the chorus has gone through my head a few times since I have been pregnant.

My boss said to me the other day in an email “keep that brain working”, in response to an idea that I had that he liked. I laughed when I read the email, because some of you will know exactly what I am talking about when I say that when I am pregnant I forget everything.  It is not abnormal that I will forget what I am talking about mid-conversation. Mike would attest to the fact that it is an act of God that I walk out of the house every morning, have two shoes on that match, and get into a car that has battery left.He has had to have a “talk” with me many times lately about my memory, the latest about remembering when I put something in the oven, and shutting the car door so the battery doesn’t die. Yeah, I burned cookies pretty bad the other day, and the day after left my car door open for like 24 hours.  Guess whose car didn’t start? (I’ll let Mike write the blog on patience and how to have critical conversations on how to correct your pregnant wife in a Godly manner)

Do you know what else I forget? God’s faithfulness. It is so easy for me to fall into the trap of thinking God didn’t you lead me here, didn’t you say that we would always have enough? How can it be?  I can often feel like the Israelite’s that Moses led out of slavery in Egypt who complain and wonder about God’s faithfulness.  They thought that He wouldn’t provide for their needs, and fulfill the promises that He had made.  These thoughts and distrust were exactly what kept most of the generation that Moses lead out of Egypt from entering the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey that God had prepared for them. Moses led them to the border, and out of fear that God would not provide on His promises, the Israelite’s convinced Moses to turn back. They missed what God had in store for them.

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that in the Fall of 2015- Early 2016 we had a lot of medical stuff going on, and with medical stuff comes the dreaded medical bills. It felt like the bills just wouldn’t stop coming in.  A common thought for Mike and I was definitely how are we going to pay for this?  We would pray often, and always felt like God would lay on our hearts you will always have more than you need, but it was really hard to see how God would move at the time.  I shed many tears as we would pay the bills and watch the numbers in our bank accounts get to the lowest place they have ever been, and wonder how God would provide if something didn’t change.  God had said that we wouldn’t need to worry, that we would always have enough, and not to make any life decisions unless He lead us to. Was I wrong? Because even with taking action on cutting back on expenses (including making the extremely difficult decision to cancel a vacation and then a weekend away) it wasn’t looking promising.  But God is good, and He knows. During a particularly worrisome week, God gave me 4 reassurances that He has it all under control.   One of the assurances was through a friend who had done something for us, and usually charges us. Without knowing our worries she texted me one morning and said that she had been thinking and “she got the nudge not to charge us”.  I had tears in my eyes. Tears that God would show us that He will take care of our needs.  Tears because He calms our worry.  Tears because He doesn’t have to reassure us about anything, yet He does. He is faithful, and I am guilty to say that I so easily forget.  He still has it under control, and continues to show us His care for us.

How do you keep the faith when it doesn’t seem that God is going to provide on His promises?  Be sure to stay in constant prayer for His leading.  Always remember that where He leads, His track record is perfect.  When God provides on His promises, take those moments to heart and treasure them.  In times when it’s hard to see how He will provide, take time to remember how He has been faithful in the past.  A great way to remember His faithfulness is to keep a journal.  It is always encouraging for me to read through my old journals and witness how He has answered my past prayers down to the tiniest detail.  Another thought would be to have a “faithfulness jar”.  It could be a bowl or vase as well, but the basis would be to decorate a jar and every time a prayer is answered (big or small) you write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the jar.  How powerful to read answered prayer after answered prayer when you need to be reminded of ways God has been faithful in your life.

There are things in all of our lives that God has to give us reminders of over and over again. Even in the Old Testament after Moses had passed away, God had to encourage Joshua a few times to be strong and courageous.  Joshua.  The same Joshua who would lead the next generation of the Israelite’s into the Promised Land.  What do you need assurance for today?  Pray, listen to Him closely.  Remember.