He has been over the trail first,
...the Everlasting Arms are always underneath us,
the everlasting love always surrounds us.
-Elisabeth Elliot
I have been thinking about the phrase, "God will never give you more than you can handle". More than I can handle? I don't think this is true. I cannot handle this. The emptiness beside me. The unfulfilled longing. The constant ache. The unpredictable tears. The hurt and confusion. The 'new' presence of fear. Life moving forward. A path I would never choose. I cannot handle this.
"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
"I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4
"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart..." Isaiah 40:11
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed..." Isaiah 54:10
He has promised. He promises. Promises to hold my hand as I walk. Promises to carry me close to His heart. He promises His peace which surpasses my understanding. His love for me has not been shaken or removed.
"To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence... to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Jude 25:24 & 25
I cannot handle this but HE is able. Able to be our strength, our sustainer, our peace, our comforter, our healer, and our hope.
Beyond the sky - Fernando Ortega
One morning when time is done
Bright heaven will be our refuge
The city of God most high
I long for that holy day
This longing sometimes it captures my heart
And carries me far away
When darkness falls over me
This promise it's like a fire inside
Burning the dark away
Beyond the sky, beyond all telling
Our Father himself will be our light
His arms will hold us and with his hands
He'll wipe away the tears
That stain our eyes
31 comments:
I love those verses in Isaiah. The one from chapter 41 is my favorite.
The way you cling to His Word really encourages me.
Rosanna,
I am Joyce Verwoerd's cousin and so I know about you through her. I have been keeping up with your blog for the past many weeks. All that you write continues to inspire and amaze me. I admire your honesty and your total faith in God in the midst of such pain and so many questions. I pray that this week with your sister will be refreshing and that the time together will bless your heart. I continue to read your blog and pray for you as you come to mind.
Blessings,
Sherri-Lynn
Incredible. Your willingness to have such deep yet child-like faith is incredible. Your willingness to ask, really wondering "Does Jesus love me?" and then chose to believe the answer despite your pain is incredible. I pray that you will FEEL His arms carrying you.
Love you Rosanna! Glad I can look over and see you sitting in the couch beside me :D
Praying that you may cling to that hope!I love you!
Hi Rosanna - as you cling to those promises I pray that you may experience God's love in a special and fresh way this week. Miss you and love you.
Rosanna,
As I sat outside my tent this past weekend and looked at the sun rising behind the mountains, I realized how busy my mind has been over the past number of months...so many questions, worries, fears, thoughts...I could not help but think of you and how busy your mind must be right now. Then I heard the Lord say, "Be still and know that I AM GOD"....my prayer for you this night is that, within the busyness of your mind, you will find stillness in our God.
Praying for you right now,
Christina
Rosanna, your questions, words and thoughts you share with us here continue to be honest and real. May God's strength be all that you cannot be in your human strength.
I pray you enjoy your week in Elkart.
Rosanna...Your faith amazes and encourages me...Love from Calgary, Jon (Dayna)
Thinking about you and praying for you often.
You are a treasure. I love you.
kari
Thinking about you daily and praying that God's arms will be wrapped tightly around you during your new path of life with him....You are an encouragement me to me so much you have no idea. I love you and am praying for you!
Rosanna,
Your attitude is amazing!! You're such a blessing to me. You are in my prayers everyday!
Jen
this is from one of my FAVORITE dayspring cards. and i wanted to share it with you today.
"In times like these…
There is PEACE Philipians 4:7
There is HOPE Romans 15:13
There is a PLAN Jeremiah 29:11
There is JESUS Matthew 28:20
Praying His peace SURROUNDS you…His hope FILLS you…His plan is REVEALED to you - as Jesus walks WITH you through this time."
your post just sends a shiver through me as I so badly want the ache, the emptiness, and the unknown to be replaced with joy, hope and promise. i'm praying for you today Rosanna. enjoy this time with your family.
Hi Rosanna,
I love you. Enjoy the time with your sister. I'm saving time for you on my couch when you come back.
Heidi
You are heavy on my heart today - it is hard to believe sometimes that God only gives you what you can handle. I'm praying that these verses do bring you comfort and I'm glad you have the realization that even though you can't handle it, God can. I love you Rosanna - have a good trip.
P.S. I love that picture - what a good looking family:)
I think that phrase is silly - and nobody ever thinks about it...REALLY thinks about it until they are going through something they really can't handle. We were never designed to 'handle' things like this, we weren't meant to survive tragedy. If we were, then we wouldn't need God. God doesn't 'give' us anything but a hand to hold, arms to embrace, strength to continue. I refuse to believe that God would give anything but love.
Thank you for sharing these verses. They speak so clearly, are brimming with truth.
PS I really hope you are enjoying time with family. Love ya.
Rose, I amen all that you wrote! I love your sweet and tender heart- your ever-feeling heart. So glad you are still feeling. I love you so much!!!! So glad you are with ones who love you so much.
~Rox
Hi Rosanna! Thinking of you lots today. You are right, we can't do it on our own. I was listening to a new song today, and the song talks about lots of circumstances, but it ends with the phrase, "Til I only dwell in Thee!" That keeps on going through my head over and over. I pray that you may dwell in God tonight, and feel His strength and love and protection.
Wish I could give you a hug.
Love you lots,
Schmarbs
Shedding tears with you today! May God's love be overpowering to you today!
Aunt Ruth
Hi Rosanna,
I went to TWU, and though I didn't really know Nate at all, my heart has broken with you. One of my close friends passed away in a car accident this summer also. I have questioned a lot, especially about God giving us more than we can handle. I really love this song--It seems to articulate everything so well--especially the hope we have--we will see them again. Praying for you.
Laura
Mercy Me: homesick
You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now
Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home
I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now
In Christ, there are no goodbye
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again
And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now
I forgot you left already, thus the answering machine on your phone, miss you Rosabella!
Give Myra a little squeeze for me!
Thinking of you lots, loving you more!
Oi Rosanna, estamos aqui no shopping centre de Coimbra, Portugal... mandando beijous, abracos e todo nosso amor; estamos orando que Deus lhe segure pela mao e de forcas para confiar nele. Lembre-se de que Ele entende a dor que estas sentindo, na cruz Cristo gritou - Pai, por que tens abandonado seu filho... o Pai nao deu a resposta, - a resposta foi a resurreicao...
Te amamos muito querida... fique firme... teus paes
Sweet girl, it is not that He wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle.......it's that He wouldn't give you anything you couldn't handle WITHOUT HIS HELP.
Hi there Rosanna,
I have been thinking about you lots and I am glad to read this post. I too agree God does give us things in life we cannot handle on our own. I am finding him as my strength and comforter and I know you do to. He is simply amazing. Glad to know you are able to be with Char and spend time with her and her family. Blessings to you.
Shauna
Rosanna,
Your life has touched me. I knew Nate from TWU, and he was.... amazing. He was able to transform my life without even saying anything.
This weekend at the TWU leadership retreat, we sang Nate's song. How phenomenal that he can still touch so many people through his words....
You will be taken care of if you cling to God.
It was so nice to see pics of you smiling and goofing around on your sisters blog. Man I miss you. I missed seeing your face, it brought me some comfort to a picture of you. I love you so much. I want to come see soon, can you let me know when would be a good time for me to come?
Hey Rosanna!
I don't know if you remember me, we went to Central Heights Youth Group together and I knew you through Brian Fedrau. And then I was Elissa's trainer at Apollo, so I would often get updates on you. When I heard about what happened to Nate, my heart broke for you. I have been reading your blog and have been so encouraged to see how God has been speaking to you and carrying you through this time. Keep holding on, God will make a way when there seems to be no way. Someone told me once, "Adrienne, when you cannot see God's hand and you have no idea where he is leading you, just trust his heart." Just know that I am praying for you as you journey on.
Adrienne Friesen
Rosanna,
We have never met. I heard about your recent loss from Michelle Potts. She has asked me to pray. Even though we have never met you are in my prayers. I am an EMT/firefighter and if I have seen one person experience a loss it has been too many. Thank you for your faith in God. Thank you for clinging to him in this time. And thank you for reminding me that the people I encounter each day in my job are real people. I am praying for you, for your family, and that you will continue to lean wholly on God. I can never expect to understand your loss but know that you have been an encouragment to me. To remember that Jesus loves us all and that the people I encounter everyday need his love. You will continue to be in my prayers. I am sure you have already been an inspiration to many. May God bless you and use you in ways beyond your wildest dreams.
in Christ
Jennifer Montgomery
Hey babe- just wanted you to know my thoughts are with you constantly. So good to see your smile on Char's blog. Oh I miss you!! Feel like cuddling on the couch today with you and a big Roxy blanket and hearing your heart. I love you so much!!!!!
~Rox
Hey Rosanna, You're such a blessing. I'm glad that you are able to go and be with your sister and her family:) Sometimes it's good to get away and think. You're love for God is so amazing...I have learned alot from your blogs, and so do appreciate the verses. Has me thinking that I need to get back to Him...When I was younger I trusted in God so much, as I got older my faith in Him has seemed to fade...I need my faith back...I think of you everyday, and know it'll be a long journey, but I know by your love for God you'll get through it...Luv ya:)
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