So the other day I was reading Psalm 91, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,” -Psalm 91:4-5 

I began thinking of all the struggles and trials of the last 18 months.  How many times I’ve prayed to God for deliverance.  How many times I’ve cried out to Him in weakness, weary from all the  pain and fatigue, financial burdens and frustrating business tasks which overwhelm me.  I remember one day making eggs and bursting into tears because they made a sad face and I just went into overwhelm.

I didn’t believe God had forgotten me or that He had caused it all. I knew He was with me and was comforting me. “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,“ Psalm 91:7a  I thought back to the morning I woke up and felt someone holding my right hand, but nobody was there and how I knew it was God.  Then I came to Psalm 91:7b-8.  “but it will not come near you.”You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.”  (emphasis mine)

I read it over and over.  It suddenly hit me.  The night before, there was another incredible Midwest storm.  We received upteen iPhone warnings of all types: tornado watch, high wind advisory, flash flood advisory, severe thunderstorm warnings.  They bombarded our phones and our ears and our TV too.  We watched and waited in fear as we readied ourselves to escape to the basement stairway to seek shelter.  But we discovered that this storm veered to the south of us and we missed almost ALL of its effects.  We had NO rain, almost no thunder, and NO tornadoes.  All we experienced was an incredible light show, a severe lightning storm that raged outside our windows as we were protected inside our home until morning.  That morning was BEAUTIFUL!  The sun was shining with virtually no clouds (a rarity here in the Midwest).  There was no rain; the humidity was lower and it was a perfect 78 or 81 degrees.  After working hard and reaching various business goals the last three months, we decided to go out and spend family time out in the beauty that God had created and saw fit to show us.

After reading that portion of Psalm 91, I realized that throughout the last 18 months, while hardships and struggles have been thrown at me of all shapes, sizes and colors, none of them had been allowed to penetrate beyond a certain point.

* We rolled over in a car accident where I broke my hand and my dh his back, but we didn’t DIE!

* We lost 30 electronic items to a lightning strike, but we HAD the money to replace them all!

* I had to have my gallbladder out, but I HAD insurance just in time (just prior and we lost it just after) to cover most of the cost!

* My dh had lost his job, but we were LED to businesses that kept us able to pay bills and keep investing in our businesses!

Every struggle was allowed to go only so far and no further and every trial was met with an opportunity.  And even though I had pain and fatigue, I was able to work through it to do the things I needed to do.  God only allows our struggles to go so far.  Often it’s further than we are comfortable with, but we’d have to admit we are still here…still alive…still able to share with others.

“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. ‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’“  Psalm 91:9-16

Isn’t it amazing how God speaks to you through His Word?  How He comforts you in dreams and with His love which shines through as you reflect on His actions?   And isn’t it amazing how we often don’t even see it until He reveals it to us at a time when we need that insight the most? And how inside of such trials often come amazing blessings or opportunities?  Look again at those sad eggs.  They made a wonderful breakfast for my family that day.  All I had to do was scramble them. 

One of the other scriptures that was in  my devotional reading that day was James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

I’m not saying it’s easy to persevere when everything is coming at you all at once or that I didn’t have times when I broke down in tears (it usually happens several times a day!), but I am saying that He makes us some promises if we trust in Him.  He gives us assurances, if we accept Him.  And maybe someday I can get my body and my mind to a place where I trust Him enough not to fear and to recognize His love during the struggle!

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” -Psalm 91:1

What say you?  Have a story to share about how God only allows our struggles to go so far?  Please comment below. I’m sure it will bless my readers!  Thank you!!