"But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
I don't know how to describe what I am going through right now, a desert time, a season of solitude, a time of waiting and wondering where God is in all this. For some time now, I have felt that something should change in my life with my writing and yet, I feel stuck and not sure what I should do. Also, as a widow, I experience a lot of loneliness and I have felt it more deeply in the past few months. It feels like I'm always having to drum up social interaction texting friends all the time to see if they want to get together. Often, they are busy with spouses or grandchildren. I am longing for a more connected life and for a community of people who are more available. I've been praying for that. And so, I wait and I pray.
I'm sure that verse in James where it says we should rejoice in our trials came into your mind. I know it always does for me. While I know no one ever does a cheer and yells "Hip hip hooray another trial" I have been trying to practice gratitude in the midst of this feeling stuck. I ask God for the baby steps to do each day to change what my life looks like. And I wait and I pray and I pray some more. And sometimes I grow impatient. This is a trust exercise between me and God and sometimes I don't pass the trust test.
I love the visual that that verse in Job gives of coming forth as gold. Such a beautiful picture of how trials shape us into something of value. And I am holding on to that. It gives me hope. How about you? Do you recall a desert time or a time of waiting? How did it turn out? Maybe you are in the midst of a trial right now or wondering if God has lost your number. I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment with your email address. I will choose three people to receive a copy of my Love Inspired Suspense title Defending the Child (USA only).
Sharon Dunn
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It was when my first husband abandoned me and our son when he was two. The struggles with loneliness can be overwhelming, but 14 years later I met a wonderful man. Celebrated 33 years of marriage this past June. ceedee1958@gmail.com
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing. Love that story of restoration.
DeleteDefending the Child sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI am in that time of waiting right now. I see the doctor on Tuesday to see if my leg is finally healing. I pray to God that it is. I love the cover of Defending the Child. deborahdumm(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
ReplyDeleteDifferent friends have said we're either in the middle of a time of waiting, or just going into one or coming out.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a really interesting book.
ReplyDeleteMy family and I are going through a difficult time this year. We have a family member going through end stage cancer. That, along with other difficult trials we are facing this year, is making this an awful desert time. All I can do is pray but some days are more of a struggle than others. cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeletecan't think of anything
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
I think for me, it was in 1988 when our daughter was killed in a car accident. She was our only child and our whole lives revolved around her. Then after the funeral to see that people we had thought of as family just disappeared - especially on I considered a sister who I'd though would always be there for me. Later they claimed it was because they didn't know what to say, but things were never the same. When we were in a group and they mentioned their kids, if we said Jenet's name the conversation went deadly silent. I refused to act like she never existed. It meant a lot of isolation time and prayers, but eventually things go some better.
ReplyDeleteWhen hubby retired, we decided to move to our dream destination to build our forever home. I'd thought it would be hard, but with my parents gone on to their heavenly home and friendships not that strong any longer, with prayer for direction, it turned out to be the best decision in 2017 and forever.
All this to say, continue to lift your troubles up and don't be scared to take new or different paths. Some scars will always be with you, but there IS a brighter tomorrow with God by your side.
I've already read this magnificent FIVE STAR book. Not entering the contest so someone else have have the great honor of reading it.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
The last couple of years or so have been hard. I know I have a lot to be thankful for but for some reason I can't seem to get myself out of the sadness and lost feeling in which I find myself. Tomorrow is our 50th wedding anniversary but we have no special plans and have not talked about doing anything. There are so many things I need to do but cannot seem to find the energy or motivation to do. I understand the desert feeling. I don't know why I am in this spot but am praying for the strength to climb out of this hole I feel like I am in. I am not looking for pity or sympathy but would appreciate prayers. Thank you! (I thought I had all of your LIS books but somehow this one.) frazierhlhs@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI am sending you hugs through this post. I can fully understand the feelings you are going through. I am disabled. In May I fell. I tried to stand instead of being in my wheelchair to fix the stuck door on our wheelchair accessible van. I broke my femor and patella. I was in the hospital for nine days and homeward bound for two months. I am still undergoing PT. I know God has a plan. My Dad is in a nursing home. I am power of attorney and dealing with having to empty his apartment and deal with financial issues for him. God has us both in His hands. Holding us in His loving arms. God bless you. dpruss@prodigy,net
ReplyDeleteI have been clinging to this verse since we lost our housing and had to stay with family from 2014 to 2015. I can see how God has used my circumstances to purify me, like fire purifies gold.
ReplyDeleteSharon, I have been in your shoes and I can understand that.. Sending you love and hugs. When I lost my mother when I was a teenager, and my father when I was a YA, and I had a baby brother to take care of while I was doing my college. I was really lost and scared then. At times, I thought that I couldn't do it anymore, but I knew somewhere that's a voice asking me to stay strong and walked small steps forward..amd I knew it's Him - always there to guide me through deep and shallow waters.
ReplyDeletecwkuen(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for sharing this so openly. Your words about the “desert time” and the trust exercise really touched me. I think we all have seasons when we pray and pray, asking God to show us what He is doing, but we simply have to trust Him with the waiting.
ReplyDeleteI love that picture of coming forth as gold. We may not understand what God is doing in the fire, but He does—and He is still working, even when we can't see it.
kykla99ATgmailDOTcom