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Quiet Time
by Kasia Kedzia
It is so easy for me to get consumed by my thoughts or the situations in my life. I saw how I can do this when I allowed some of my insecurities to keep me up at night last week. I was preparing to leave for a weekend away and found myself consumed with the most ridiculous thoughts and hypothetical situations. Even silly details such as if the clothing I was taking was going to be appropriate. I know this is a ridiculous thing to lose sleep over but it just goes to show how the most mundane things if not handed over to God can really drive me bonkers and keep me from functioning in life. When I let anything consume me I cannot thrive at anything, in fact I can barely survive!
Lamentations 3:22-32 (NIV) 22Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
When I allowed these things to consume me it showed me all the more how much I need to hand over the big things to God: career, love life, my whole future.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him […]
I have seen many around me go through some unexpected difficult times this year. Some as a result of the economic times, others as a result of decisions they have made. I have had my fair share of unexpected trials as well, but have learned that it is those unexpected moments that have pushed me the most. The unexpected trials and hurts have been opportunities for all of us to rise to the occasion or recoil and cower.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. 31For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. 32Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.
Someone recently shared an interesting fact with me. The difference between the world's best athletes and the runners-up is minuscule. On average, male gold medal winners are only 0.4% faster, or a fraction of a second than silver medal winners. This is the difference between surviving and thriving. When the unexpected happens it is an opportunity for me to thrive in my walk with God or rely on my own strength. However, in order to truly be strong enough to make it through the hard unexpected times I need to really believe that God loves me and that his love is truly unfailing. This is the challenge.
In moments when the unexpected happens, where you feel like someone just punched you in the stomach and you are gasping for air, my heart and what I believe is revealed. In those moments I can want to just withdraw, it can be hard to read or pray and it is hard enough to stand at all not to mention stand up against it, whatever it is.
Joshua 1:3-5 (NIV) 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates - all the Hittite country - to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
If I truly believe that God loves me and has every intention to meet all my needs, or expand my territory so to speak, I won’t run and hide. I won’t recoil or become self-reliant. I won’t waste my time asking why because the why will not matter as much as the who. God’s love does not change based on my circumstances. However, my circumstances can often provide an ideal situation for God to work some amazing miracles. Often, before the miracle a trial must come. I am still waiting for one or two specific miracles but I refuse to lose sight of the ones that I have witnessed over and over again. Holding on to that helps me to believe that He really is with me and with those who are hurting around me.
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Since those first days, I have made it out of the Projects, finished my Masters degree in International Development, and moved to DC to work in my field. As a young single Christian woman my struggles today are a little different than they were when I first came to know God, but who am I kidding, not much. It's the every day battle for my heart to be pure before God, to strive to please him, and help others to seek and know Him.
Over my years of a faithful walk with God I have received much grace and compassion and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Through out it all one thing has stayed consistent: God's word. Through His word I have been inspired and it has kept me faithful even when faith seemed like a foreign concept and God seemed deaf to my prayers. I started emailing my Quiet Times which helped me stay accountable as I shared my struggles and fought for understanding. Some wrote back and said they too were inspired and could relate. I hope some of my times can help inspire others who are seeking and fighting just like I am, to get to heaven and take as many as possible with me along the way.
Like what your read? Check out my blog: http://stronggirlforlife.wordpress.com/
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