Silver Linings

"God works all things for your good," "This is going to make you stronger," "God never wastes a hurt," "All things happen for a reason," and the list of platitudes could go on and on. I am not saying that these are not true, but sometimes when you have just endured a trial, struggle, or hurt, these don't exactly bring you comfort.

These are the truths that you see much further down the road. After you have worked through some of the pain and heartache, when you have been given comfort, and you can look back and see things from another perspective, that is when these sentiments come to life.

There are so many things that are different in my life now that were not my reality 5 years ago, and today some of the above statements came to life for me.

In January I was able to quit my job of 23 years to devote more time to my other two jobs. The two jobs that I have are a direct result of some difficult things in my life. One job is working with cancer patients, and the other working with women in crisis pregnancies. Both are so rewarding, and neither-I do believe-would I be doing if it had not been for crisis in my own life. God did use those things for my good, He did make me stronger.

This weekend I was brought to tears on a couple of occasions. God allowed me to witness first hand answered prayer in a clients life and it was amazing, a transformation right before my very eyes. He is so good. He gives mercy and grace, and He fills us with joy that cannot be explained. As I witnessed answered prayer, I realized what a blessing my job is as I get to see lives transformed. Wow!

I can now say, thank you God for shattered dreams. He shattered my dreams of what I thought my life was going to be, so that He could give me new and improved hopes and dreams. This has required a lot of change, and who really likes change? It is painful, unpredictable, and uncomfortable. I don't know what is around the corner, and that is scary at times, but I do know I am in His hands, and even in the uncertainty, there is no other place I would rather be.