Allow me to a bit vulnerable in this post. I have lately been fraught with worry, anxiety and fear. I’ve been pondering where this came from (cause it seemingly came out of nowhere), and I’ve spent a good deal of time praying, reading the Word and psychoanalyzing myself. I guess a large part of the fear is simply worrying about ‘tomorrow’ and the thought What on earth am I going to do with my whole life? 

“Worry puts question marks where God puts periods.” John R. Rice

But in all the soul-searching that I have done, I have found no solace or understanding, until today.

I started reading a book by Robert J. Morgan called Red Sea Rules which gives 10 scripture-based strategies for difficult times. I’m pretty blown away with the godly perspective I’ve gained about my worries. The Red Sea Rule #1 to making it through a hard season (be it worry, anxiety from situations or just plain bad circumstances) is to “realize that the Lord has either placed us there or allowed us to be there, perhaps for reasons presently known only to Himself.”

The same God who led me in will lead me out. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8). Realizing that God has me right where He wants me brings a great sense of hope. I’m not in this difficult season because the devil has me in a trap that I can’t break free from and God can’t break into. I will rest in the fact that it is God who brought me here, He will keep me here because of His love, and give me grace to be His child (Heb. 12:6, 1 Cor. 10:13). Jesus will turn this trial into a blessing and teach me a lesson about Himself, myself, and life itself. 

This poem, which is untitled and unattributed, found in a small volume by V. Raymond Edman, titled The Disciplines of Life, really encouraged me:

When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man 
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, Watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which 
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lights beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out–
God knows what He’s about.

You can check out the book Red Sea Rules here: