"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along."(Psalm 40:2)
"For those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and You smooth out the path ahead of them." (Isaiah 26:7) God your way is always right and you are faithful. I was impatient...Much like road construction, sometimes God's timing and methods differ from our expectations. We're limited by our finite vision; we struggle to understand what He's doing when we try to speed over places still in process. Sometimes the jolt causes much pain.
I was confused. I was lost. I doubted, was discouraged, diverted my attention to the wrong things, was defeating myself. I was uncertain...longing for God's peace and rest was not shortlived. I longed and still long to see the end-result of what he's accomplishing. But guess I've got to remember dark valleys will come up along the way (as mentioned in Psalm 23:4). Clare (thank you so...) has once urged me to "never stop fighting because the reward is so much greater." Whatever rewards there may be at the end; God has promised us a safe landing and that should be enough to reassure us we aren't fighting in vain. The rewards will belong to us; we'll be richly rewarded for staying strong thru' storms.

We are worthy of His love. It isn't something we should reject...In Christ, we're definitely worth it, not a failure, not unrighteous, not stupid, not ugly and whatever we may be telling ourselves. "For as he (a man or woman) thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7) His Word promises that He has great plans for all of us, for you! "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9). But many of us are not experiencing the abundant life because we don't know who we are. Have you been looking into distorted mirrors - like I have, mm... - for too long? God wants you to look into the only true mirror that will tell you exactly who you are, what you have, and where you are as a child of God - His Word.

"Not many of you were wise by human standards...but He chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; the weak things of the world to shame the strong... So that no one may boast before him... Let him who boasts boast in the Lord!"(1 Corinthians 1:26,27,29,30b) I boast in the Lord. Amen.

My future decided - Hillsong United
You hold the future in your hands
You know my dreams and you have a plan
And as you light my way, I'll follow you

My eyes on all of the above
My soul secure in all you've done
My minds made up
And you are the only one for me

Jesus, savior, in my life you are everything
My future decided, I will praise your name
And I know that I am, I am yours
Yeah, I know that I am, I am yours

You hold the earth in your command
You are the rock on which I stand
And as I live each day, I'll follow you

Aren't afraid, aren't ashamed Lord we know who we are
We are your people and we won't be silent
Unified hear us cry at the top of our lungs
You our God and we will not be shaken

Please walk beside me - Parachute Band
I offer up my heart to you, my Lord
It’s only in your arms I’m safe, I’m whole
In you I will abide forevermore
You’re faithful and you’re true
Your love will see me through
There’s no one else like you I cling to

Please walk beside me every day
Hold me and guide me all of the way
You give me life and destiny
Only in You can I’ll be made free

Today I offer up my heart
Today I offer up my heart
Completely Lord not just in part
Completely Lord not just in part
Take all I am take all I’ll be
Take all I am take all I’ll be
In my weakness Lord have your way in me

Be blessed, be strengthened, be loved. Live and live well. Live with hope ('But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength'), be like eagles ('they will soar on wings like eagles', freedom - 'the truth will set you free' john 8:32), run the race for him and fight the good fight of faith ('they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint'). Look forward to tomorrow...brand new day, brand new events, brand new you. We may not know what the future holds but we know who holds it. Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. (matthew 6:34) Live a day at a time. Someone has said, 'Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its trials - it simply empties today of its joy. Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow - it empties today of its strength."

For these, I praise You Father. For these, I will be strong. For all You've done, the days following today will no longer be days I spend most on figuring out who I am currently and why I am who I am. Undeserving, but still loved. Not wonderful in my own eyes, but a magnificent creation in Yours.

whoever you are. you too, are fearfully and wonderfully made, in His image. be who He wants you to be, live the life He's intended for you. if burdened, share! galatians 6:2 says "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." if you want and desperately need peace, call on Him (jeremiah 33:3) - surrender's the heartbeat of peace. rest in His love and cast all of your cares upon Him. He never sleeps, never slumbers, never tires, is never sick of hearing our prayers. He grows stronger when you're weak. you're in my prayers. :)

P.S. Thanks to all who've shared very meaningful verses with me over the past few days and asked if I was okay. Thanks Luj (if you're reading!) :)

how great thou art.