"The Thirsty Deer" (Part 5)

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. (Psalm 42:5-6 NIV).

Today ought to be an easy day for most of us to celebrate. After all, it’s Friday! I often browse through the Face Book updates on Fridays and there’s always one common theme: Just a few more hours and the weekend begins! Wouldn’t it be great to be able to have that feeling everyday? And, I know about now you are saying, “easy for you to say, you don’t have the kind of job that I do. Well, let me tell about the three jobs I have right now! I’m trying to balance working three schedules. One of them is a part time job with Home Depot in the flooring and wall department. I can tell you that one is keeping me hopping! Most of my schedule there is the late shift, sometimes working until 11 PM! There’s not a complaint in any of that. There are others who are doing far more than I am. What I’m saying is that Friday or Monday, we can have a GREAT day!

Believe me, there are plenty of days when I begin to let the “pity party” take over. The last two weeks have been really challenging. Moving to a new house has really been both physically and emotionally challenging. Thankfully the words of the psalmist come roaring back at me: Put your hope in God!

I got a call from the Red Cross reminding me about my appointment to go and give blood this week. I’ve got to tell you that my first reaction was, “please not that again.” I must give blood regularly to maintain the right levels of iron in my body. That’s the only way to treat hemachromatosis. It always knocks me down. Just makes me so tired and out of sorts for a day or two. But it is the only thing that will keep me from really getting sick. So, grit your teeth and go give blood! I know that’s one perspective. However, here’s the other perspective. God has provided a means of treatment and it is working. Wonder how many folks can’t say that about their illness?

It’s just another reminder that God is trustworthy. That means that I recognize and acknowledge that God is still in control. God is still on His throne. God is working all things for good. I can trust Him, regardless of the circumstances in my life. I have nothing and no one to fear. In fact, if my faith is not solid enough to survive the storms of life then I really have no faith at all.

I’m glad it’s Friday! But Mondays can be just as good, really. Remember “the Land of Jordan.” That’s the place God has reserved for you to inhabit in perfect peace and joy. It is bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ on your behalf, and no one or not circumstance can take it from you without your permission.