Transparency In A World That Is Anything But....

Can I be transparent with you for a minute? Someone told me that all I post on Facebook is the good stuff. Just the sunshine and rainbows of my life. He knows who he is, because he also said, I wish I could find out if your life isn't all rainbows and sunshine. I choose to post the good, and post a minimal post asking for prayers when things are bad. And I have always felt like it was my choice to do that. But then God placed it on my heart... He whispered to me... "How can the situations you experience be used for My glory if you aren't sharing the bad AND the good? How can your testimony be used to encourage others if you aren't sharing what I have brought you through? Maybe someone is in a situation like you were and you've overcome that. Maybe your story can help others." So, this post. Enjoy, and hopefully you can relate to some of the things I struggle with.

Understanding will never bring you peace. 8/7/16 This is something that I have struggled with for a very long time. I always want to know WHY. I am always the first to ask the 5 W's: Who, What, When, Where, and the infamous, often unanswerable WHY. I feel a need to understand everything that piques my interest. Recently, I have come to look at certain situations in a different light - with a different lens, so to speak... There are sometimes things that, even after they are explained, I will not understand. The need to understand is something I have struggled with moreso since December 2015, and most people know why that is. There is a huge why that I know I will not have answered until God calls me home (which I am praying is not for a long time, unless the rapture occurs). I have to let go of focusing on that WHY. I would love to have an answer. There are many other people who would also love to have an answer, for more than just the WHY. Every day, I just leave that at the feet of Jesus, and trust Him that He can carry that burden for me. I have three children who look to me daily... to be their provider, cheerleader, chauffeur, chef, entertainment provider, this list could go on and on... In short, these children are watching me and how I handle daily life. I have been a worrier, and it is my natural temperament to always be worrying about things. I think that somewhat goes hand in hand with motherhood (especially mothers of boys!). If I am contstantly worrying, there are consequences for that: *** I am distracted from the right now moments with my family *** I am not as happy as I could be, because worrying steals my joy *** I am more likely to feel like giving up, because each day I am stressing about things outside of my control *** I set an example for my children... to worry about everything. I don't know about you, but that is definitely NOT the example I want to set for them! If I worry, they become worriers... the good news is, I can change that! I can show them what it looks like to walk by faith. My brain does not have to be so distracted by worry. You know the devil is the author of confusion and chaos. God is the author of peace. He knows what each day holds, and He is always on time. On His time, not mine. Thats a whole different post! I would much rather have a peaceful mind than a chaotic one. Others may not mind the chaos or confusion. Some people need that like it's oxygen. That's for them. Definitely not for me! I choose to leave the mess alone. I need peace. I need to get through each day, and His grace is sufficient for me. Every morning is a fresh start, after a restful nights sleep, I find each day new ways to make the choice to trust and not worry. My takeaways from this... *** Without worry I can refocus my attention on the right now moments with my children *** Without worry I can ENJOY today without fear of what tomorrow will bring *** Without worry my brain is not always racing through the day, I am able to slow my thoughts and enjoy life *** Without Worry (AKA the need to understand) I am free to enjoy life as it should be... I know that when my children are grown and gone, I will miss these days. And I dont want to miss out on them now by being worried about everything. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" Psalm 62:5 "Find Rest, O My Soul, in God alone, my hope comes from Him" Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," 2 Thessalonians 3:16 "Now may the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you"