Be Courgageous

The start of 2016 has turned out to be a bit rocky. Actually the end of 2015 was already there and proceeded to carry into 2016. I am not real big on making resolutions or even picking a word for the year as seems to be a new common thing. But this year I have decided that I do indeed have a word that I need to focus on and set forth the effort to achieve. It is courageous. I need to be courageous. Thinking on this helps change/adjust my focus. I have for the last many years dealt with an illness that causes much anxiety for me. Real, physical, life interrupting anxiety. I have felt weary and tired, discouraged and frustrated when I am in the throws of this illness. It is hard for me to interact with others or carry out the normal affairs of life. I go through a gamut of feelings. It is difficult to "readjust" to life as it should be when I get better. Yes, I need to be courageous because it takes courage to face the day and to interact with others and built relationships. I need Jesus, and prayer, and hope for each day. I am reminded of a story I heard of a woman who was facing difficulties in life and was encouraged to go and talk to a wise, Christian woman. Her words of wisdom after hearing all the woman's difficulties was "And then there's God." The woman was frustrated that this was all the "wisdom" that the Christian woman shared. She felt like she had not really helped her. She was encouraged to visit this same woman again, and again she gave her the same words of wisdom, "And then there's God." In time the woman finally got it. The truth is no matter what we are facing the same words apply - "And then there's God."  He is our hope when we feel hopeless, our strength when we are weak, our source of courage, and the God who sees us. So lets take courage - He is with us!