In the weeks where I was experiencing tremendous amount of pain and there seem to be no end to it, these verses were a solace to my soul, a constant reminder that the Lord is with me and will carry me through. He has and will continue to do so. Just look to Him and He is beside you.
Psalm 23:3-5 (NASB)
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Philippians 4:4-9 (NASB)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Psalm 116:5-7 (NASB)
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NASB)
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NASB)
8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
There is this story about footprint in the sand. It is a well-known story and it spoke about how God carried us when it seems He was far from us. Although the story, its meaning and intentions were uplifting and is edifying to those who are seeking the Lord when they seem to be at a lost, I have another take on this story.
Whenever this story is told or whenever it comes to mind, the image that comes to me is not one where I am carried on the back of Jesus but rather there continues to be 2 pair of footprints. In instances where I needed Him, He is there, not carrying me but is beside me, walking with me, consoling me, uplifting me, talking to me, listening to me, one arm beneath my arm ready to support me when I stumble.
There were moments where there are knee prints and a set of footprint that are set deeper in the sand. That is when I stumbled and Jesus lifted me up leaving an imprint that is deeper in the sand. I know He is there all the time because He is beside me. Even when I sit down, He is there with me sitting beside me, looking at me. I have tears in my eyes but He has a smile on His face. I grimace from the pain in my abdomen but He is there holding my shoulder.
The Lord does not carry me. He upheld me and stood where I know He would be.
In God We Trust and in Christ alone my hope is found.
Hebrews 11:1
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