Grateful April
At the end of March, Washington State received news from Governor Inslee that he would be extending the “stay at home” order through the entire month of April. I would be lying if I said my stomach didn’t drop. But It did. My next reaction was: “This will not take hold of me.”
It is easy to allow bad news to affect us. Worry is a part of our human nature. A nature that has been running from the true source of help, guidance, hope, and joy since that moment in the Garden of Eden. This same human nature that looks to man for hope versus the True Hope we have in Jesus.
Psalm 112:7 says (emphasis added):
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
When the news of our extended stay at home order hit the news, I had a choice in that moment: submit my worries to man’s plans or submit them to God and turn to what I know and fully trust. I chose the latter and I wanted to encourage others to do the same. I went to our craft closet, pulled out some paper and numbered it from 1-3. At the top it is titled: GRATEFUL APRIL. I wasn’t going to allow man’s plans to affect my mind. Surrounding this list of gratitude we are also posting scriptures reminding us WHO is fully in charge. Not man, but God.
Over and over again in Scripture we see how man has foiled and ruined the original design God had intended for this world. Through our sin we have been destroying the world and lives around us. But God, being so compassionate, full of love, and slow to anger brings redemption for these failures we of the human race have caused since the beginning of creation. He is a good GOOD God who will restore all things back to Himself.
Today we are on day 24 of Grateful April. It has allowed us to see and remind ourselves tangibly that GOD is in control. It has reminded us that He calls us to be His hands and feet and wants to use US to show a hurting world where to find Hope and Trust.
If the “stay at home” order is extended, my heart will stay steadfast, trusting in the Lord and listening to His voice and staying obedient to Him.
