When your Life Tests your Life Verse


Be strong and courageous. 
Do not fear or be in dread of them, 
for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. 
He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6


As a fairly new believer, I found great comfort in Deuteronomy 31:6 {see above} It was during that time that I was suffering with panic attacks, especially when having to drive somewhere alone.  I would also suffer with severe anxiety when having to face situations that I was uncomfortable with.  I took God at His word through this verse and would envision Him already at my destination, yet riding in the car next to me.  Or already at the doctor's appointment, yet with me while I was getting ready to leave.  The Lord ministered to me time and time again through this verse so that my panic attacks stopped and my anxiety lessened.  

And so my life verse was born...

Then life went on...

...I went through a time of prosperity where things were going well emotionally and physically.  

 During times of prosperity, it is important to spend as much time in the Word and in prayer as possible, for then you have a storehouse to draw from during the lean years when it may be difficult to pray or be in the Word.

(I talked about the pitfalls of wasting times of prosperity in my blog post, The Seventh Year:  How to survive anxious moments which you can read here.)

Unfortunately, for me, I did waste some of those prosperous years and instead of focusing on Jesus to be with me and go before me, I was focusing on the worry and trying to do things in my own strength again.  You can read more about letting go of worry in my blog post, Just Let Go:  Learning to Trust Again here.

I remember Beth Moore saying on several occasions that you want to "pass God's test the first time so you don't have take a make-up exam".  lol.  And lately, I feel that way.  The past couple of years, my life verse has been tested over and over again to the point that I am in the Deuteronomy 31:6 remedial program.  lol.

I have experienced loneliness with either friends moving away physically or just friendships that have grown apart. I have experienced a few years of emotional upsets and have now segued into a year of health issues. 

This week was the culmination of testing my life's verse which I'm hoping will be my final exam in Deuteronomy 31:6 as I want to finally get it right by clinging to the Lord and allowing Him to minister to me.

I have been hit on every side with different circumstances each effecting different aspects of my life from work, to home, to family, to my own health.  And not just minor circumstances, but  major!

I don't know if any of you other bloggers have founds this, but I also feel the Lord testing me with my own blog posts...

Over a month ago I wrote the post I mentioned earlier, The Seventh Year:  How to survive anxious moments, when things were relatively calm.  Well, the week I scheduled that blog post to publish was indeed the week of testing I mentioned earlier that was filled with anxious moments including riding in the front seat of an ambulance while they were transporting my husband to the hospital for extreme dizziness.  He has been in the hospital for six days now and we are hopeful that he may come home today.  He has vestibular neuritis caused by a viral infection.  In addition, I am waiting for some medical test results to come back AND our peaceful  backyard sanctuary is being threatened by a 33 house subdivision which will strip away all our trees and shade and basically land two houses just a few feet from our rock wall and will basically be in our backyard.

But it then became apparent during these crises that I had indeed filled up over the summer when I committed to rest and reset which you can read about here.  I was prepared for the Seventh Year...

I have felt the Lord give me courage to do things that in the past would've left me paralyzed.  I feel His strength and presence with me through all of this.  I am behaving in a manner that seems supernatural to me.  I am not going to lie, my body is feeling the effects of this high anxiety week.  I am emotionally and physically exhausted. BUT, as I said to our small group, I am oddly at peace and for me that IS strange!   lol.  But with God there is nothing strange about it.  He IS my Peace.  He has indeed gone with me and has not forsaken me.

During last week, the Lord led me to blog posts that ministered to me in the EXACT way I needed to at that moment OR my devotional reading would encourage me in such a profound and specific way.  

But most especially, because I was so busy, distracted, and exhausted, I found the Lord consistently bringing verse after verse and spiritual concept after concept to my mind which I had stored up this past summer and then He ministered to me through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Although I would prefer not to be going through these experiences, even in my exhausted state, I feel stronger in my faith than I ever have before, and so for that I am grateful.

I'll be honest, most of my prayers have been answered with a "no" or a "wait",  and I can feel my faith start to waver, but then the Lord brings to mind this stanza from  Lauren Daigle's song...

When You don't move the mountains
I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

Which has now become my mantra...

I am praising God for my life verse which promise He has not failed me in and He never will.

God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], 
1 Corinthians 1:9 (Amp.)


**Update**

While typing this blog post, I received a text from my husband and he is coming home today!  :-)

Thank you Lord!


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Comments

  1. I like how the prophet Habakkuk said it:

    "Though the fig tree should not blossom
    And there be no fruit on the vines,
    Though the yield of the olive should fail
    And the fields produce no food,
    Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
    And there be no cattle in the stalls,
    Yet I will exult in the Lord,
    I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

    Sometimes God's ways don't make sense to us, but we can trust in His goodness, mercy and love and that all the things He allows and doesn't, are for our good and His glory! Blessings as you wait on and trust in Him.

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    1. Hi Donna, Thank you so much for sharing that passage of Scripture. Indeed, we rejoice in the God of our salvation.

      Amen!

      Thanks so much for the encouragement. :-)

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  2. He is so good and so faithful! Thanks for sharing your story. Visiting you from the trekking thru link up. laurensparks.net

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lauren, Indeed He is!

      You are very welcome.

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  3. Oh, how I praise God for taking care of you and your husband and for all of the answers to prayer, dear friend. I have surely been praying and so burdened for you both. God is SO good, and you surely passed the test this time, so hopefully, there will be no make-up exam!!! My Mom always said something similar, too, she would tell me that she wanted to get all the good she was supposed to get out of the trial so she wouldn't have to go through it again! It is really something that you mentioned this because I just told Zach the other day about what Mom used to tell me. I am so thankful for all God is doing in your life, dear friend, and I am standing with you in prayer and much love. You are such a dear blessing to me. Sending much love to you.

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    1. Hi Cheryl, Michael and I have felt your prayers in a big way. We appreciate you and your intercession for us so very much!

      Here's hoping! lol.

      Awe, thanks for sharing that story. :-)

      Sending you much love and gratitude!

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  4. Oh Praise God that the Lord allowed the message to be sent to you about your husband's homecoming just as you were typing! I definitely feel that what we share about on our blogposts will be put to the test, and might also come under an upset by the enemy! Oh, but I can so agree with you that the supernatural strength of the Lord is right there with us when we look up and rely on His sufficiency. He continues to teach me more and take me deeper in that very thought. Thank you for sharing these beautiful words of depending on the Lord. You brought encouragement to me tonight!

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    1. Hi Bettie, Thank you so much for joining in the conversation and sharing your thoughts and insights. I appreciated them so much!

      You are very welcome!

      Praising God you found encouragement here!

      So thankful for you and your sweet visits.

      Blessings,

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  5. Dear Karen, there is so much encouragement here . . . thank you for your words of hope and strength and of focusing and trusting in the Lord. Truly, He is able to give that supernatural strength to trust Him through the difficult times of testing as you write . . . sometimes I feel like Elijah hiding in a cave during these times!!! :-) And I am so glad to hear that Mr. DelTatto is home!!! You all will be in our prayers. I love you and miss you, dear friend. <3

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    1. Hi Bekki! Oh you are so welcome dear friend!

      Amen!

      Indeed! lol.

      Thank you so much for your prayers. Michael is at 80% now and is able to drive and function pretty much as he always used to. Praise God!

      Oh I miss you so much too!

      Sending you much love,

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  6. Thank you. I recognize it. How is your husband now?

    My eyes are ever on the Lord,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.
    (Psalm 25)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Aritha,

      You are welcome!

      He is doing much better thank you. He is basically functioning as he normally would with a little more fatigue which is to be expected as his brain continues to compensate for some of the minor balance issues that remain, but the visiting nurse said he is at 80% which is great news!

      Thanks so much for asking.

      Amen!

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  7. So glad your husband was able to come home! Praying for both of you today. Thank you for sharing your post with us at Encouraging Word Wednesday this week.

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    1. Hi Mississippi Mom!

      :-)

      Thank you so much! He is doing much, much better and is pretty much back to normal. :-)

      You are very welcome.

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  8. What a heartfelt post, but also with some courageous insight as how to face obstacles with God by our side. Prayers for your husband's continued improvement and complete healing and anything else needed in your life. ~hugs~ and thanks for sharing with Sunday Scripture Blessings.

    Peabea from Peabea Scribbles

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    Replies
    1. Hi Pea Bea, Thank you so much for your prayers. He is indeed improving every day and went back to work this past Monday. :-) And thank you so much for your sweet prayers for all that concerns us.

      You are very welcome! You are a gracious host. :-)

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  9. I also often schedule posts in advance, and I always find it interesting when the Scripture I use is what I end up needing to hear from the Lord the week it goes live. May the Lord continue to heal your husband and help you handle the current stresses in your life.

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    1. Hi Julie, Thank you so much for your sweet prayer. My husband is doing much better and went back to work this week. :-) And thank you for praying for the stresses in our life as indeed we have quite a few. The Holy Spirit knew and prompted you. :-)

      Your visit blesses me.

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  10. Thanks for linking up at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

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