Hope is My Anchor
Strength for your soul amid life's storms June 2005
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"But please, please—won’t you—can’t you give me something that will cure
Mother?” Up till then he had been looking at Aslan’s great feet and the huge
claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw
surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was
bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in
the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own
that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother
than he was himself.
—C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew
“O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived…” —Jeremiah 20:7
I’m just plain shocked sometimes at what’s in the Bible! (and glad someone else said
it first so I won’t think lightening will strike me if I think it!). Have you ever dared to
think—or say—that God deceived you? That the life you are living isn’t the same as
what you thought was promised—that it’s not exactly what you signed up for?
I find that when the occasion comes and I feel such things, God is not appalled. He’s
not waiting to strike me down for my impudence. He is, as always, glad that I’ve
come to Him. Going to God when we have these thoughts is the most important, most
valuable—most healing thing we can do.
For it’s then I find my trust in God can actually grow. Our relationship doesn’t
disintegrate because of what I fear or feel or think. When I go to God with my
doubts, my anger, my questions—I find He actually listens. As I wait in His presence,
I am often blessed with the realization that He cares even more than I do.
Dave and I have made Psalm 40:1-4a our prayer for this year:
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust…
I pray this year, whether God relieves all your troubles or allows them to continue, that
He will set your feet on that firm place to stand. The firm place, I am convinced, is not
found in circumstances—they are a shifting sand. The firm place is found in His
character, in knowing and trusting Him while our world is a raging storm about us.
The safe harbor we long for is seeking His face, looking into His eyes, and knowing
He cares even more than we do. I pray you will go to Him today. May God bless
you with a New Song.
In Christ, Merry
Strength for your soul amid life's storms June 2005
_________________________________________________________________
"But please, please—won’t you—can’t you give me something that will cure
Mother?” Up till then he had been looking at Aslan’s great feet and the huge
claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw
surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was
bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in
the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own
that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother
than he was himself.
—C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew
“O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived…” —Jeremiah 20:7
I’m just plain shocked sometimes at what’s in the Bible! (and glad someone else said
it first so I won’t think lightening will strike me if I think it!). Have you ever dared to
think—or say—that God deceived you? That the life you are living isn’t the same as
what you thought was promised—that it’s not exactly what you signed up for?
I find that when the occasion comes and I feel such things, God is not appalled. He’s
not waiting to strike me down for my impudence. He is, as always, glad that I’ve
come to Him. Going to God when we have these thoughts is the most important, most
valuable—most healing thing we can do.
For it’s then I find my trust in God can actually grow. Our relationship doesn’t
disintegrate because of what I fear or feel or think. When I go to God with my
doubts, my anger, my questions—I find He actually listens. As I wait in His presence,
I am often blessed with the realization that He cares even more than I do.
Dave and I have made Psalm 40:1-4a our prayer for this year:
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust…
I pray this year, whether God relieves all your troubles or allows them to continue, that
He will set your feet on that firm place to stand. The firm place, I am convinced, is not
found in circumstances—they are a shifting sand. The firm place is found in His
character, in knowing and trusting Him while our world is a raging storm about us.
The safe harbor we long for is seeking His face, looking into His eyes, and knowing
He cares even more than we do. I pray you will go to Him today. May God bless
you with a New Song.
In Christ, Merry
| A New Song |
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© 2004 Dave and Merry Marinello, all rights reserved.
Welcome! Thanks for visiting our little "harbor" amid life's storms. We hope you
will find rest and encouragement in your struggles, big or small. Here you can:
will find rest and encouragement in your struggles, big or small. Here you can:
A New Song
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Hope is My Anchor
Strength for your soul amid life's storms
Strength for your soul amid life's storms