Shaken

It’s interesting to me just how quickly things can shift. Wonderfully relaxing and fun weeks give way to the more stressful and worrisome ones in a heart beat, and often without warning. It always takes me back and sets me up for some soul searching.

You see…I like to think that the joy in my life comes from Christ, not from my circumstances. That is how it should be, and that is how I want it to be all the time. But all too often He is reminding me just how much I wrap my happiness around how my life is shaping up. It’s a scary reminder to get. Whenever that shift in circumstances rears its head, I never seem to be prepared for the shock of it. It always throws me off course–leading my immediate response to be one of anger, bitterness, worry, or doubt. Not the things that mark me as a follower of Christ–like hope, love, perseverance, and joy despite times of stress.

God has used the last few days to really point out this failure of mine. To show me my negative reactions when life gets bumpy are not things that reflect the relationship I have with Him. If I was placing my joy in Christ and living by Psalm 16:8, I should not be shaken so much by my circumstances. So…as I wrestle through this lesson, time and time again, I can only be thankful that He is patient. And that He is faithful, always leading me closer to Him in the end. He will see me through, whatever the course may be.

Just to clarify…all is well with me and baby! God is using other areas of my life to refine my character and relationship with Him.