Trust Me...

Last semester I received a devotional book from a mentor.  I won't lie and say that I read it every day, but this morning I opened it up to find today's date.  As I did so, I stopped on August 22 (yesterday) and the first words I saw were

"Trust Me"

I stopped looking for today's date after those two words.

It goes on to say,

   "Trust Me, and don't be afraid. I want you to view trials as exercises designed to develop your trust-muscle. You live in the midst of fierce spiritual battles, and fear is one of Satan's favorite weapons. When you start to feel afraid, affirm your trust in Me. Speak out loud, if circumstances permit.  Resist the devil in My Name and he will slink away from you. Refresh yourself in My holy presence. Speak or sing praises to Me, and My Face will shine radiantly upon you.
   Remember that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Me. You have been judged NOT GUILTY for all eternity. Trust Me, and don't be afraid; for I am your Strength, Song, and Salvation."  -Jesus Calling

You see, I've been having a hard time trying to figure out what to say, to put my situation right now into words.  I am having a crisis one week before school starts in which I don't know if I'll be able to stay where I am or if I will have to go back to my parents for a semester. I keep saying that it's just a lesson in trust but there's got to be more to it.  Little did I know that God would make a sermon come from one of my pastors that would prepare me for this in a way I did not expect, change my life, and teach me so much in just four days.  It's no accident that I turned to that page first in this little book.

It's a good reminder that Satan is using this time in my life to put fear there. A friend of mine recently said this (paraphrase):

Imagine a pack of gazelles and how they travel together.  When a lion stalks their prey, they are looking for the smallest, the slowest, the weakest, or the injured.  As humans, at one point or another we are put into that position and Satan becomes the lion stalking his prey, waiting to take out the people that are not as strong or as fast as the rest of the pack and then he clamps his jaws around us and tries to take us down.

So while this mess is running it's course, I know that whatever happens will work to God's Will and I have come to have peace that no matter what happens, I will be okay. I still tear up and get nervous, but I have firm belief that my Father will bring me through this with a peace that only He can bring. And I am surrounded by so many people who are covering me with prayers and love, I know that I am not alone and I am SO incredibly thankful that God has already blessed me this abundantly.