Saturday, January 28, 2023
Matthew 16:16-18
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
I was having a conversation with my brother this morning about how I am doing while learning to cope with Joshua being gone. I told him that what the Lord has been really challenging me to learn is how to let go and allow him to carry me. This means letting go of how I know how to deal with stress, worry, and pain, trusting that he not only has all the answers on how to get out of it but, is the one who can silence the storm with just one utterance #Peacebestill. I have regret when I think about agreeing to let Joshua pursue school away from home and go so far seeing his life was taken away at this time.
The Lord keeps telling me that this is a lie that the enemy tells me and that this is not my fault I could not have known or stopped what was going to happen. But also, the reason the wicked one speaks lies like this to God’s people is in hopes that we fall into a place of despair.
2 Corinthians 4:8-11
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Over the past few weeks, I have been in the Book of Nehemiah. The great wall rebuilder in Jerusalem. As I was driving today the Lord spoke something to me that made me think about what I am experiencing in this specific stage of grief. In the Book of Nehemiah Chapter 6, you see a situation that arises as Nehemiah attempts to complete his purpose. Some friends that are later revealed to be unknown troublemakers request that Nehemiah stop building and come down to speak with them in hope that he would pause from doing what it was that the Lord had placed in his heart to do.
One might ask what does this have to do with grief? The answer is Everything. Unless you like being sad and or feeling down I would like to believe that anyone who has dealt with grief or is currently dealing with a loss in any shape or form has asked the question when will I feel okay again? Now things will never be the same, but I do believe that God wants not only me, but all of his children to be able to process what has happened and get to a place where we feel comfortable saying okay what can I build from this. Isaiah 61:3 says To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Beauty from ashes, my son asked me “Mom what is one thing that you have done that you would have never done if Joshua had never died? and it is this I would have never started to write. The Lord has given me the ability to speak Through my writing when I don’t have words to speak. Picking up the pieces of life and rebuilding the life that God set before me. But please don’t rush the process, God is not the author of confusion 1 Corinthians 14:33 and nor does he rush when doing a thing as it says in 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. Whenever one decided that they are going to try to pick up their cross daily as taught by Jesus in Luke 9:23, despite what has happened the destroyer, the wicked one will always send opposition. It may not come the way Nehemiah did but it will come and when it does we need to stand firm on God’s word to what he spoke in Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. Whether it be by negative words or unwanted comments quickly decided and say no I will not let this situation nor my emotions consume me and continue to take necessary steps even if baby steps to heal.
Discouragement is one of the enemy’s number one tactics to get people to sink back leaving them to feel is it even worth it. I am here to tell you as God’s servant and chosen mouthpiece that it is, Keep On Building pause when you need to but do not stop building. Don’t stop seeking your healing from the great physician Jehovah -Rapha. Don’t stop putting a demand on your healer to produce the things that he spoke are possible. Don’t stop reaching to press into Jesus like the woman who had the issues of blood did which can be read in Luke 8:43-48. It was her persistence that led her to get her breakthrough. God is there and will meet you where you are please do not lose hope pray when you feel like you need help. In Matthew 1:22-23 it reads 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Remember that God is with you
Since Joshua’s death, so many things have come against me to cause more grief, some days are harder than others but the power of God has sustained me and often whispers “Cast your cares upon me”.1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
In Nehemiah 6:1-2 it reads Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
As I was reading this what came to me was that the sad truth is that there are people that only benefit when no repairing or healing has been done. Don’t let the enemy keep you in this place. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Blood of Jesus is against any and everything that wants to keep you back from receiving your healing. I plead the Blood of Jesus over your mind, eyes, and heart. I speak to the spirit of setback, and delay and pray that your healing will spring forth. I decree Isaiah 58:8 over you that thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward over every person. I pray you have the mind of Christ 1 Corinthians 2:16 and nothing shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life Joshua 1:5.
Has this grief process gotten easier? No, but the strength of God is helping me deal with it each morning. I never would have thought that I would have to deal with something like this but it happened. Joshua not being here has been so difficult, literally as I sit here and type I just remember times when he would run up the stair to tell me he is home or ask if it was okay to go out. He was a blessing and I knew that but didn’t realize that it could be taking. People please if there is anything that you take away from my post besides the fact that Jesus is Lord and God has to be the most important relationship that you have and to love him with all of your heart it would be that you need to value and tell the people you cherish that you love them but also thank God for your blessings. I will press on and not on my doing but because Greater is he that is in me then he that is in the world 1 John 4:4.
I often would look at Joshua’s character while growing up and think to myself that he is going to be a good man and when the Lord sees fit to join him as someone he was going to be a great father. But I will never get the opportunity to experience this, but what I was able to see during his viewing and funeral was how big of a positive impact he had not only on his immediate circle but the surrounding community based on the outpour of kind words that I and our family received. I will forever be grateful to everyone who stood beside us. He is gone, and I must keep building but I pray daily that God gives me his peace that surpasses all understanding.
Philippians 4:4-11
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Closing
Lord, as I close this week’s post off I pray that you will give us the strength required to finish this week strong just like you provided Nehemiah the strength and determination to rebuild what was broken. Grief came in changing the life that we knew but you are the great restorer. I speak life and life more abundantly as it says in John 10:10 over your children and ask that you continue to help us because we don’t know not what we are doing let alone sometimes experiencing.
This week I am going to do something new, I am going to ask you to read this verse that I will be providing below out loud. There is power in speaking; Proverbs 18:21 says “Life and death are in the power of the tongue and those that love it will eat its fruit. Today I am asking you to join in speaking the word of God because we know that he hears us.
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
We seal this prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit and ask Lord that you would Help us even now
The song of the week is: Is in Jesus’ Name by Israel Houghton
Please remain steadfast and remember in times of sadness you can pray and ask God to help you. Here are some scriptures that you can read when dealing with grief or sadness.
- Psalm 34:18
- Psalm 73:26
- Matthew 5:4
- Romans 8:28
- Psalm 147:3
“No weapon formed against you will have any success.”—Isaiah 54:17
Please do not forget to like share and subscribe I am praying for you.
#Thecarpentersmother