M2M: Trusting God Through the Tough Times

It's so hard, not just as a mom, but as a human being, to trust God when all else around seems to be crumbling.  At least it is for me.  It's easy for me to trust Him when things are going great, and we are on top of the mountain....but girl, when that valley hits, let me tell ya, it's not so easy then.   All my life I have leaned on the verses from Proverbs 3:5,6- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Oh sure, I have used that as a life verse at times, but I can honestly say that I have also struggled with that same trust my whole life. 

When we've been up on the mountain top, it's been easy to look around and just feel so blessed and trust Him because during that time, we are relieved of the many life pressures that assault us during the valley times.  Not to say that life is necessarily easy during the mountain times, but it's just less stress/pressure.  We've been through our share of valleys, though.  Right now is a bit of a valley for us.  Spiritually and emotionally, it's been one of the best times of my life....and I can say for Dan too.  We have finally found a church home, we are making friends, our kids are growing and learning, and we are just happy where we are at.  We're content.....At the same time, we're also going through a bit of a crunch, financially.  With Dan trying to start up a new shop, it's been tight, and sometimes we have to get the bare bones at the grocery store.  We are learning to budget more wisely, and we're doing ok; God is providing for us.  But it feels like a bit of a valley right now, in the financial realm.  Money does not make the person, I know, but it pays the bills....as we all know.:)

God totally slapped me on the hand this week, though.  He honestly woke me up from what felt like a valley....and He turned my day into a mountain top.....I have to tell you this story because I'm just amazed at His provision and His love and His mercy to us, even when we are tempted to doubt....He's still there, even in the smallest of things.  I went to make our grocery list and menu for the next week; it was my dreaded chore of the day.  As I pulled up the grocery store ads online, I began planning out the menu, according to what was on sale, and at the same time I started to fill out the grocery list.  As I realized things we were totally out of (our kitchen was depleted pretty badly), I started looking more closely at what was on sale, and just about everything on my list was in the ads....even diapers were on sale.  I really couldn't believe it when I saw that milk was on sale.  I just kept sifting through, and everything God knew we were out of, He was showing me His way of providing for our family......I think my mouth just dropped to the floor.  When I was doubting, wondering how I could get what we needed, He gave me that slap on the hand and showed me Who He is....He is the Great Provider.  He does care about even the little things in our lives.  

It was just encouraging to realize that even when I doubt, no matter the circumstance, He is there....all I have to do is trust and lean into Him, instead of questioning and wondering.  Trusting God through the tough times is what's going to build character in me, and it's what's going to build character in you.  It's those refining fires during those valley times that will help us to grow.

Love, Mel 
To read more from Mel, head on over to Real Heart Prints.

* Mom2Mom - Stop, Love, and Pray! *

I'm not a screamer but I got close to taking on that identity one day last week. Three daycare kids, ages 5, 3 1/2, and 1 1/2, and my own 1 1/2 year old had me at the brink. One can only say "No!"  and remove tiny hands from areas they don't belong in, while bodily placing writhing bodies in time out, just so many times without seriously considering downing a mega sized candy bar while screaming at the top of their lungs.

Well, I can't anyways. . .

 I was not feeling the love. At all. The only things I was experiencing were frustration and a complete sense of being overwhelmed. The day did not end well. They were spending the night, thus drawing out the long day.  One kid had gone inside of himself and refused to cuddle and two others whimpered to sleep, while writhing in my arms. Finally, I went and crawled into my own bed and as I laid down I told God, "I can not do this. I simply can NOT!"

In that moment I got slammed with the loving rebuke,

"Melissa, you didn't try praying for them today."

"Oh, you have got to me kidding me!" was my first thought. I'm supposed to stop and pray with screaming, naughty toddlers that are drinking toilet water and drawing on the walls!?"


"Now Melissa, don't be dramatic".  I swear I could hear God laughing at me. "I don't mean in that moment. But you could stop and pray with them in the non-naughty moments. With them and for them."

I'm ashamed to say I fell asleep that night with a "yeah, whatever" mindset about that whole concept. 

The next morning, God was back at it.   (He just doesn't let things alone sometimes . . .   ;-) 

The first thing my eyes fell on that morning was a prayer shawl draped over the chair in my bedroom. I do not attend a denomination that uses prayer shawls but I have a friend who does - -and when I first learned I was pregnant she gave me the prayer shawl to later use to swaddle my little one in. As I glanced at it, my heart stirred.

"Today, if those children are naughty, you get that prayer shawl and you get right on the floor with them, draw them into your lap, cuddle and snuggle them, and pray for them and you."

There is no magic in that prayer shawl. That's not why I am using it now. It has nothing to do with power or magic or anything else.

What it does carry, is a reminder to  

Stop (running through my to-do list)

Love (on kiddos who may be misbehaving because I was so busy with my to-do list)

Cuddle and snuggle (cuz I can use a cuddle and snuggle as much as they can)


and

Pray (for them  - - and especially for me to be who they need me to be)


Can I challenge you today, if it's a particularly trying day, to stop, love, and pray!?  See what a difference it makes. It might not stop the cat from being baptized or the pots from being un-planted but it will help you cope with those things without assuming a fetal position and wishing for death. :-)  And guaranteed, you'll get some love bursts for the kids out of the deal while you're at it!  Yes, even the kid that just cut her brother's hair. . . .