The summer of 2012 was the beginning of a very difficult season for me due to severe physical trials. I had gone from being a highly active person, performing in eight shows a week to someone whose movement was extremely restricted and I was in constant pain for months on end. I soon discovered that a battle with your body can quickly turn into a battle with your spirit and also your mind. Some days just getting to the end of the street was like climbing a mountain for me.
Going through such a fiery trial I decided to read through the Psalms every day and found them to be wonderfully real and encouraging. Another particular part of the Bible that I found comforting was Lamentations 3:22-26 which reads,
"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
At the time of writing this poem it was one year on from the start of this very painful time and I can honestly say that if it hadn't been for Jesus, the family and friends He put around me and people lifting me up in prayer, I don't know where I would be now. It was without a doubt the toughest year of my life on many levels but through this season I was more aware than ever of how God is my Rock, my Fortress and my daily Salvation. He taught me that I can trust Him with my life and I must take things a day at a time. Although I can't see the purpose behind all of these things I know that He can and all He asks is that I take His hand every day and walk with Him, knowing that He's in control and has my best interests at heart.
My hope is that this poem can be an encouragement to anyone who might be going through a hard time in whatever manner it may be. As Christians we're not exempt from hardship and sorrow but we have a Saviour who has only allowed the trial to come our way because He has the strength to get us through it. I've learned that if I try to take on the problems and issues of tomorrow or any further down the line, it gets overwhelming.
God's grace is sufficient for the day and this is something I have learned to be absolutely true. It's also something that I have to remind myself of daily and continually apply to my life. I'm not claiming to have got it all down pat now and that I never battle with things anymore, not at all. It's an ongoing trial and it's a daily walk but anything that drives a person to the feet of Jesus is a positive thing ultimately. It's good that I'm reminded daily that I need my Saviour and as Micah 6:8 tells us,
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
I don't know what the future holds but I follow the one who does know. I have peace knowing my life lies in the hands of the God who created me and there's no other place I would have it. Wherever you may be today and however you may be feeling, I'd like to encourage you to trust your future to Jesus too and just keep your eyes on Him. If you’re already a Christian then the power that put the moon and the stars in the sky, created all life and brought Jesus back from the dead is the same power that works within you and in your life. No matter what your circumstances may be, when you know Jesus you're always in good hands and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
At the time of writing this poem it was one year on from the start of this very painful time and I can honestly say that if it hadn't been for Jesus, the family and friends He put around me and people lifting me up in prayer, I don't know where I would be now. It was without a doubt the toughest year of my life on many levels but through this season I was more aware than ever of how God is my Rock, my Fortress and my daily Salvation. He taught me that I can trust Him with my life and I must take things a day at a time. Although I can't see the purpose behind all of these things I know that He can and all He asks is that I take His hand every day and walk with Him, knowing that He's in control and has my best interests at heart.
My hope is that this poem can be an encouragement to anyone who might be going through a hard time in whatever manner it may be. As Christians we're not exempt from hardship and sorrow but we have a Saviour who has only allowed the trial to come our way because He has the strength to get us through it. I've learned that if I try to take on the problems and issues of tomorrow or any further down the line, it gets overwhelming.
God's grace is sufficient for the day and this is something I have learned to be absolutely true. It's also something that I have to remind myself of daily and continually apply to my life. I'm not claiming to have got it all down pat now and that I never battle with things anymore, not at all. It's an ongoing trial and it's a daily walk but anything that drives a person to the feet of Jesus is a positive thing ultimately. It's good that I'm reminded daily that I need my Saviour and as Micah 6:8 tells us,
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
I don't know what the future holds but I follow the one who does know. I have peace knowing my life lies in the hands of the God who created me and there's no other place I would have it. Wherever you may be today and however you may be feeling, I'd like to encourage you to trust your future to Jesus too and just keep your eyes on Him. If you’re already a Christian then the power that put the moon and the stars in the sky, created all life and brought Jesus back from the dead is the same power that works within you and in your life. No matter what your circumstances may be, when you know Jesus you're always in good hands and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Upon this day a year ago a journey new began.
My eyes could see the steps ahead, my heart had made it's plan
But things did not go easily no matter how I tried.
I could not win, regardless of how many tears I cried.
I watched as all I'd worked for simply crumbled all around;
My dreams and aspirations now lay broken on the ground.
Each day my body failed me deep despair would strike afresh.
My youth and freedom gone, I was betrayed by my own flesh.
So many nights my sleepless eyes stared blankly at the dark,
The weight of tribulation on my soul had left it's mark.
Thinking of the lifestyle I no longer could attain,
A prisoner of my circumstance and caged in by the pain.
My every motion crippling, each movement now a chore.
My life became a shadow of the one I'd had before.
It seemed that I was destined to endure the darkest path,
The joy within me stolen, I'd forgotten how to laugh.
To think of me a year ago and know what lay ahead,
I do not envy me, I'm glad I'm in today instead.
If You'd shown me what awaited I'd have fainted there and then
Yet somehow here I stand, prepared to face each day again.
For daily You renewed me with a strength not of my own.
Though times were dark indeed I did not face those days alone.
Your tender mercies covered me and pulled me from despair.
Upheld by Your right hand, I knew I dwelt in safety there.
Submitting to Your will for me and doubting not Your love,
Creator of my soul, I sought Your comfort from above.
Your thoughts are not like my thoughts and my ways are not Your ways.
Dwelling on Your goodness I could trust You with my days.
Remembering Your promises, the Scriptures came to life!
Learning truths I would not know if I had not known strife.
Searching through Your Holy Word, it brought my spirit food
For every situation works together for my good.
You're bigger than my circumstance, Your power has no limit.
My situation proves Your strength sustains me every minute.
Your peace surpasses knowledge, in myself I cannot boast
For when I fail to seek You Lord is when I hurt the most.
If I neglect Your counsel seeking other things instead,
I lose my way as thoughts distort for You're my daily bread.
I must remember who it is that I am talking to
For desperation only strikes when I lose sight of You.
To focus on the problem then I start to lose perspective.
The loss feels overwhelming when I think in retrospective
But every day I have a choice, a thought I must implant,
To see the things I can do instead of those I can't.
Though one year on and still my body struggles to get by,
I know You always understand, my precious God on high.
You meet me in whatever depths I call upon Your name,
This battle is on-going for so too is the pain.
But You've shown me I can trust in You though life will bring me sorrow
And keep my focus on today, not trials of tomorrow.
You've blessed me with compassion from my family and friends.
My gratitude for their support will never come to end.
Each day I journey onwards though I don't know what's in store,
My spirit rests in knowing that You'll meet my needs and more.
Your grace is all sufficient, You're my ever faithful Friend.
My joy was merely hiding for You've helped me laugh again.
No matter how we plan in life, success be near or far,
I've learned we're never in control, we merely think we are.
It's You who plans my path O' Lord with strength to see me through
And when each day comes to it's end my praise shall be of You.
My eyes will look to Heaven though my flesh be put to shame,
Whatever lies ahead let me bring glory to Your name.
Relying every morning on Your mercies that are new,
I'll take You by the hand Lord for my daily walk with You.
2 Corinthians 12:9
"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 5:10
"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."
2 Timothy 1:12
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
