the test

Today is one of those days where i feel discouraged.  I feel tired. Exhausted, really.  I think if we're honest with ourselves, we will admit that we've been in this spot more than a few times.  The discouraged place.  The place where we may even begin to question---God: is He even concerned about us? Maybe i should have found a different path for myself.  Maybe i really am on my own.  (Sure, all of this sounds silly and irrational, but we've all had similar thoughts.) So, when we're down and feel perhaps even a bit empty, what do we do? Where do we go?

Maybe you aren't having your best summer ever.  Maybe it hasn't been your year. Or few years.  Where do we go when the summer plans, or even just the life plans in general, have unraveled?  When things may not have gone according to my plan?  I think this is the place where satan must grin and say "Ah, yes, i've got her right where i want her." Satan loves when i come to this point of discouragement.  He thinks he will thrive when i am undone and more prone to believing his lies.  I can choose to wise up for a minute and begin to realize that perhaps this place i'm speaking of is just a test.  Maybe this is the point where God checks to see if i'm really going to trust Him when i've forgotten the way.  If i'll hold true to what i've believed for so long.  Maybe this is where God wants to see if i'll stand on His truths---instead of my feelings. 

So maybe this discouraged place is actually an opportunity to see more of His goodness.  More of His grace.  More of His mercy.  More of His plan for my life instead of my own plan.  At the end of the day, God is still God.  He is still in control, test or no test.

"The Lord is my strength and my song." Exodus 15:2