War of the Winds. His Warm Encouragement.

Here's what I hate: The past several weeks have been gray, cold, and windy. 

It’s that time of year when the hot air fights with the cold air.  They battle for territory here in Tennessee.  They push and pull causing the winds to scream and slap the trees and houses in anguish.  Hot knows his turn in our area is coming, so he begins to push his way in, but Cold has enjoyed her winter stay here and she’s not quite ready to leave.  

And so, they quarrel for weeks on end.  Sometimes it would appear that Hot is gaining some ground.  The Sun is helping his cause.  But other days, Cold calls on her friends the clouds to come to her aid.  

I call this time of year the pre-spring battle or War of the Winds.

Then, one day, quite without warning, Hot and Cold will call a truce.  I suppose they decide to make love not war.  They warmly agree to live in the land together and bless us with their harmony, which causes birds to sing and faces to smile and trees to bud.  Oh, I do so love it when Hot and Cold decide to be friends rather than constantly fighting. 

When the weather is gray and the winds are fighting, it’s so easy to get depressed and overwhelmed. 

That’s how I felt on Tuesday night: just plain beat down.

You already know one of the reasons.  Our house has not sold yet.  I know our sweet realtor is tired of reading about our frustrations on my blog.  But, it’s the biggest thing in our life right now, so of course I have to write about it.  You see, we’ve had a lot of showings.  And people love our house.  I won’t go into the various reasons no one has made an offer.  But, suffice to say, we continue to be disappointed we haven’t sold the house yet. 

It’s not just the waiting.  I mean, I am very impatient, but, that’s not the sole cause for my discouragement.  You see, I begin to doubt God’s care for us when things are not going the way we think they should.  I begin to question. 

Are we really supposed to move?

What are we going to do if our house does not sell!?

Does God even remember us?

There were some other discouraging issues adding to my depression on Tuesday night.  And they all found me sitting at the kitchen island whining to Bill. 

Bill was right there with me—down and discouraged.  What a pair. 

Finally, we decided to quit complaining and just pray.  However, we were both reticent to even talk to God because, honestly, we were a little grumpy with Him regarding the non-sale of our house. 

We sort of begrudgingly bowed our heads.

Bill led our prayer—I don’t even remember exactly what his words were, but something quickly happened after we began to pray.

A peace washed over me.  A strength surrounded me.  The ENCOURAGER entered the room (and our open hearts.)

After we said Amen, nothing magical happened—it’s not like the phone rang with a cash offer on our house.  Nothing about our situation had changed.  But, everything about our hearts had changed.

We had submitted our will to His.  We committed (again) to trust Him with this whole house situation and with the other issues that were weighing on us.  We asked for His help and asked for forgiveness for trying to tell Him how to help us. 

I am so grateful for that prayer time. 

The next morning, I found these words of scripture waiting to further edify my heart:

Psalm 16:7-8

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I know the Lord is always with me.
  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

God guides me and instructs my heart even while I sleep! 

He is always with me!

I was richly encouraged.

It was like a ray of sunlight on my wind-weary psyche.

I wish I could say “and we all lived happily ever after.”  But, I have to tell you that the week has not gotten much better.

Our house still has not sold.

Our youngest is ill with some mystery virus, which has me stressed to the max.

I am also deeply burdened for a couple different friends who are going through a dark time.

Why am I so easily discouraged even after reading and believing that God is always with me!? 

Why?  Because I am human.  I am so prone to be easily thrown and tossed by the wind.  I am so faithless this week!  But the Lover of my soul is faithful even when I am not. 

God was busy encouraging Bill as well.  He texted me the following from his devotion by Charles Spurgeon:

Success is certain when the Lord has promised it.  Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when His people are earnest in a matter that concerns His glory.  It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive and to find it good to wait upon the Lord.

I don’t know that I have “found it good to wait upon the Lord” yet.  But, clearly, that is the goal and the challenge this season.

I guess I’ve found myself mostly feeling like God is sort of preoccupied and not paying attention to our situation.

And so, just tonight, He encouraged me with a verse that shot into my mind--I thought: “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” 

What was encouraging to me was the first two words:  God works.

GOD works.

God is working on the sale of our house…but more importantly, God is working on my faithless heart and building my character.

God works.

I want him to be working on the sale of my house, (which He is) but He is also working in me.

  

God is working in me!

I am his workmanship. 

He’s not finished with me yet.

And so, I bow my head and submit to His gentle hand.  

And here's what I love: He lifts my chin to look into His loving eyes and feel His warm encouragement, which conquers the faithless cold battling for my heart.