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| "Learning Success" Copyright (c) November 2001 Debi Gentry Does anyone have a minute to listen to me? To really understand what I am going through right now? Where can I turn to find the answers that I need, for help and comfort? Doesn’t anyone "really" care anymore? These thoughts ran through my mind as I walked out of the nursing home the other day. Wiping my tears from my face I thought, "this is the "human" comfort I get", And that was not getting any thing accomplished for me! My mom has been fighting with a bed-sore now for about 7 months. And today I found out that she now has "staph" infection. My heart is breaking! As I reached for a caring ear from anyone close by, the results were still the same. I found busy people every where and no one really "listening" to me! The feelings of loneliness, helplessness.... and definitely a failure as my moms caregiver! As I was reading one morning, I read about a man that was such a great family man. A very caring and loving man. His name was Job. He was the richest man in all the east. But you know, in one day he lost everything! He lost cattle, donkey, sheep, servants, camels and even all his children were killed! WOW! But you might say, "I don’t think Job knows what I am going through!" But the Bible says he does! Job had family and health problems.....and lost everything. I do believe he would know what we are going through in this hour. And God blessed Job. Could Job see this when he was going through all this "mess"? NO! I believe Job is a good example. Through it all he maintained his integrity and trust in God. And kept his marriage in tact, and prayed for his friends. And notice that God turned the trial around when Job started praying for his friends. Job is a inspiration to me because God brought good out of bad in Job’s life. And I know He can do it for me. "And we know that "all" things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 Our age of "instant" fix has made it hard for us to know how to "wait". We want to learn things "instantly"..... And we tend to want relief from pain right away! This is at the top of our lists! We want a "instant" cure! But even though we may have many pains that have been cured, we still live in a world that we will have pain! Some pains we just need to give to Jesus and let Him take care of them for us. We cannot do it ourselves! Job could not reach his children with his words, but he could still pray for them. And for me, I may not be able to reach my mom and tell her that I am trying hard to take good care of her inspite of all the things that are happening right now. Because of her disease I cannot talk to her and help her to see that she is loved very much and there are people trying to help her. But I will continue to pray for her. And know that God is very able to get beyond the disease of this world, and comfort her. I know that God is working on her behalf right this minute! He loves her even more then I can. And even though when things are looking dim....I will turn to Him and "trust" in Him. Job teaches me that God is not going to bring us this far, and then leave us in our pain! He will stand beside us forever. Where people will let us down, God will never! Job also teaches me that when he looked beyond "self".....and his "problems"...... that is when God really worked the most. He has encouraged me to pray for others more. By praying for others, we can gain a better meaning of what "true" success really is. "But He knows the way that I take, When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10 And never forget that the Lord is able to take care of any problems we have.... No matter the volume or extensiveness. Our Heavenly Father IS bigger then our problems! "Personal Needs:" Courage: Psalm 27:14 Psalm 29:5 Isaiah 43:2 Faith: Hebrews 11:1 Romans 10:17 Romans 12:3 Hebrews 11:6 Hope: Romans 5:2-4 Romans 8:38, 39 2 Peter 3:13 Strength: Phil. 4:13 Isaiah 40:29 Ephesians 3:16, 17 "Personal Feelings: " Angry: Psalm 37:8 Proverbs 16:32 Ephesians 4:26 Worry: 1 Peter 5:7 John 14:1 Isaiah 26:3 "Emotional State:" Fear: 2 Tim. 1:7 Romans 8:15 Proverbs 3:25, 26 Depression: Psalm 34:17 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 Isaiah 40:31 Loneliness: Hebrews 13:5 Matthew 28:20 1 Samuel 12:22 Pain: Jeremiah 30:17 Romans 8:18 Psalm 34:4-19 Sorrow: Psalm 30:5 Nahum 1:7 1 Thess. 4:13 "Encouragement:" Joshua 1:9 Proverbs 11:30 Philippians 4:13 Jeremiah 1:8 Mark 9:23 Hebrews 7:25 Revelation 22:4 |
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