Disguised Blessings?

Doing 30 days of thankfulness the month of November on Facebook or other social media? That's fine, but not for me.  First off, it's too difficult to remember it everyday.  Second off, why only the month of November?  Yeah, I get it.......it's Thanksgiving month.  While I am always thankful for the many blessings in my life, sometimes I get overwhelmed by all the things I am NOT grateful for. Justin, our oldest, and I were listening to Laura Story sing "Blessings" today.  It's a great song and helps you put your troubles into perspective, but it doesn't take away the fact that the problems loom large.  One of our largest looming problems right now is our daughter.  We love her with a fierce love, but she will have nothing to do with us.  She's being guided by people who seem to think it's okay for her to be dishonorable and disrespectful to her parents. I can't even begin to tell you the lies that have circulated about us.  It's a looooong story which I will not go into on here. They are building her up while she continues to live in direct disobedience to Scripture, and they support her in her sin and make her out to be something great all the while she is grieving the Lord, not to mention her parents.  I can't even begin to tell you the heartache we have been through in the past 6 months.  The depression, tears and heavy weight that I carry around because of her at times seems to be more than I can bear.  One thing I have found out through this is that we are not alone. The devil would have us believe we are the only ones, but we are not.  It's been a blessing to talk with others who have been, or are going, through what we are.  Facebook has an "On This Day" app, and as I was scrolling through it today I came across a post from 6 years ago that meant more to me today than ever.  It was this...

"Cindy, remember My ways are higher than your ways, My thoughts higher than yours...TRUST ME with her because I have a plan and I love her more than you will ever know." (Isaiah 55:8) 

It slapped me right in the face!!!  I know God has been trying to teach me to trust Him with her, and I have been trying very hard to do so, but I let it overwhelm me probably more than I should.  It's so difficult when your children aren't doing what's right.  I just keep hoping that the "Blood's thicker than water" statement is true and comes to fruition!  :0)  She's got a strong support group, but our God is stronger and "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."  (Ephesians 3:20)  So thankful that my God is stronger, and He has a plan for her life.  Thankful that He can see the bigger picture, and trusting Him for restoration and truth.  

"Blessings" by Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Love,
Me