Friday, July 11, 2008

Safety Nets

So I've been thinking a little while about what to blog about and this is just heavy on my heart... So I'm going to share it. It was something I experienced in my quiet time on Wednesday night. I just keeps running though my head for some reason.


The passage I was reading was Psalms 4. Josh and I are kinda on this journey through Psalms. We are taking a new chapter each week and reading it every day that week. For whatever reason this Psalm really really hit me hard. Lately, I've been having a hard time reading. Even my passages I'm committed to reading. But Wednesday night I spent some time in prayer before reading just asking God to speak to me through His word.


This is the passage by way of Bible Gateway in the NIV version.


Psalm 4


For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

 1 Answer me when I call to you,
       O my righteous God.
       Give me relief from my distress;
       be merciful to me and hear my prayer.


 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame [a] ?
       How long will you love delusions and seek false gods [b] ?
       Selah


 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
       the LORD will hear when I call to him.


 4 In your anger do not sin;
       when you are on your beds,
       search your hearts and be silent.
       Selah


 5 Offer right sacrifices
       and trust in the LORD.


 6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
       Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.


 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
       than when their grain and new wine abound.


 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
       for you alone, O LORD,
       make me dwell in safety.


So I start my journal entry. Titled it Safety. Honestly, with out really thinking about it. I know the last word is "safety" in the passage but it just didn't occur to me at the time to name my entry that. It wasn't til reading the passage like 5 times did it hit me that the last word in the passage is what I titled my entry. It really showed me that that is what God wanted me to take away from this passage. I started to write. About my fears... my anxieties...my concerns for our future in the next few months as Josh is looking for a job. I have always been a fan of "security"... be it financial, relational, or whatever. I suppose it something that all women find comfort in. Well as we are approaching a rather trying time in the book of our life right now, I am faced with a strong fear of uncertainty. Honestly, it makes my heart beat incredibly fast as I'm writing this. A million different scenarios run through my lil head... different ways to "close this chapter and start a new one" in our life. Of course, I'm learning toward the more "pleasant" outcomes but I know that that might not be the way we close this chapter. Im praying that the closure is easy, painless and CLEAR AS A BELL... black and white... but it might not be. So enter... FEAR. WORRY. ANXIETY.


The passage... well it's constantly running through my head and I want it to continue to run through my head as we start this new journey b/c it's my SAFETY NET. That is how I ended up relating the passage. If I place my "feelings of security" in the safety net of a home.. a job...etc, those things can fail... break... and leave me empty. However, if my faith and trust if Him is my safety net, it will NEVER fail... break... and will leave my cup full.


So that is where I am now. He is my safety net. Whatever is before us in the transition that we will be making soon, I am placing it in His safety net. Not mine.


Clouds



xo

19 comments:

  1. I really like this approach to Bible study. And it's so great that you were lead to this passage at this time in your life! I'll be keeping you and Josh in my prayers as you start a new journey!
    And can I just say that I am so glad you blog?! :D

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  2. Thanks so much for this, Amber!
    This spoke to me so much.
    Thank you, sweets.

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  3. Always a great reminder to come back and be at peace
    to stop
    just stop
    and KNOW. to reconcile with things pulling and pushing us to anxiety and stress. Completely not what He wants for us as he generously offers himself to carry each and every heavy burden laid before us. I sometimes think i make my burdens out to be more than they really are. we are funny creatures. we think we can. we think we know what's best. and yet we struggle and all along the path He is asking to take it. to carry us. to move us in His direction and peace.
    it's trust. how often we forget He is present in ALL things great and small. he safely draws us close to shield us and empower us to move forward.blind.broken.and weak. he makes us whole again :)
    this is my prayer and blessing for you and for hubs. may his shadow of grace overcome you. and spoil you in his mercy
    debee

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  4. Hi, Amber! Sometimes I stop at your blog, but I've never commented here. But I really liked your post today.
    I agree totally with you... We insist in putting our faith in our financial situation, or job or something else. We forget these things break... Today you remembered me to put my faith in God, and only HIM.
    May God bless you and Josh.
    Kisses from Brasil!

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  5. I know what you mean about being a "fan" of safety...me too. I think I put some level of trust in the things that make me feel safe, then when they are snatched away I realize that there is nothing but my God that matters in this world! This is my favorite part of the passage you shared, because it's so cool that God promises to hear me!!
    "Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
    the LORD will hear when I call to him."

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  6. Phil and I are reading through Psalms too! We do one psalm and then a few verses in Proverbs. :)

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  7. Thank-you for posting this. It is something that I really needed to hear today.

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  8. So true, Amber!
    He really will take care of you and show you a new season in your life that's even better than what you're expecting!
    P.S. Thanks for your comment on my blog! :) I hope you are close behind me with that too! ;)

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  9. amber this is so exciting to see you writing this!!!!
    i am a big meditator on the Psalms as well as Isaiah. I must say that Isaiah is my FAVORITE book in the Bible!!!
    But Psalms, can just meet you right where you are...and that is the AWESOMENESS of God!!!
    He meets you right where you are, and YOU ARE seeking Him. He feeds you what you need...right where you are.
    I am very excited for you on this journey.
    You are right, He is your (our) safety net and He will never fail us, leave us or forsake us.
    thank you for sharing this, sweet girl!!
    XO

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  10. amber this is so exciting to see you writing this!!!!
    i am a big meditator on the Psalms as well as Isaiah. I must say that Isaiah is my FAVORITE book in the Bible!!!
    But Psalms, can just meet you right where you are...and that is the AWESOMENESS of God!!!
    He meets you right where you are, and YOU ARE seeking Him. He feeds you what you need...right where you are.
    I am very excited for you on this journey.
    You are right, He is your (our) safety net and He will never fail us, leave us or forsake us.
    thank you for sharing this, sweet girl!!
    XO

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  11. Now this is what I call meaningful blogging! Absolutely love your post and can so relate! For me the problem is that I know that I must hand over my problems to God - which I do BUT I find it hard to then let go of it! For some reason I still find it hard to let go of the steering wheel of my life even though I know that in the instances where I did hand over EVERYTHING to Him - He never ever failed me. I will keeop you and Josh in my prayers and I know that od has something beautifull on the way for you! :)

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  12. Isn't it comforting to know as a Christian you have a safety net in God?
    It keeps me going sometimes through the trials
    of life.
    Prayers for you and Josh and your next chapter.
    Just keep your faith strong & your prayer wheel turning!

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  13. I don't think I have ever commented here... :)I read this and felt drawn.
    I am {much} older than you :) and let me tell you, you'll come back to this so much in your life! Well, hopefully.
    As soon as I read Psalm 4 in your entry, I just knew... I have dwelled here so many times.
    I sometimes wish, when He takes His time (not mine) to reveal His plan, dang it if I don't just want a post-it note on my mirror in the morning. What do you want me to do? How long do you want me to wait? What is the message of this trial? What in my character are you working on today...
    I always tell my friends, someday I'll write a book: Post-it Notes from God... cuz it is just what I need some days... but that doesn't encompass patience, so I know He has so much more work in me.
    And your very right... even if it works out in a way you hadn't even considered, He'll be faithful.
    I'll see ya at CHA... maybe I can talk ya into a picture! I need a decent new picture, and being old and chubby doesn't make that easy! Up for a challenge? :)
    Have a safe trip there!

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  14. this is a celtic prayer that got me through my brothers death, and stays with me always.
    As the rain hides the stars,
    as the autumn mist hides the hills,
    as the clouds veil the blue of the sky,
    so the dark happenings of my lot
    hide the shining of your face from me.
    Yet, if I may hold your hand
    in the darkness, it is enough,
    Since I know that
    though I may stumble in my going,
    You do not fall.
    <3 xoxo

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  15. hey amber. i found your site thur several others and i just wanted to let you know how much i appreciated your post today. i understand your situation. my husband and i are in the same boat. thanks for sharing the psalms..i am totally going to do that tonight with my hubby. also, if you don't mind me asking where do you go to church? my sister lives in the same town as you and the your photog company sounds familiar to one she has mentioned.

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  16. Thanks for sharing this! I just finished a course on Psalms at Regent Seminary....and it was incredible.
    I have FEARS too! And today when I read your blog I felt calmed......to know that our Lord put so many different people in our live to help us get through the tough stuff!
    Thank you! I love the fact that God lead me to your blog today......He is AWESOME!

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  17. thanks for sharing this...i sometimes come to your blog but never comment.
    i enjoy reading ur blog and esp enjoyed this journal entry.
    trust god cause he is awesome!
    bless you!

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  18. thanks for sharing this...i sometimes come to your blog but never comment.
    i enjoy reading ur blog and esp enjoyed this journal entry.
    trust god cause he is awesome!
    bless you!

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  19. Your post blessed me greatly. I'm so glad i came to this site. You're right, it's in only God that we can be totally secure. Thank you for your insight.
    As you walk thru the journey of life, i know God will always lead. He said "i will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go." But it doesn't end there, He said "i will guide you with my eyes." Thats our security. So Amber, as you place your worries in your safty net, you'll see the best of life come to you. Later

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