THIS is when the Tough stuff begins

The Calendar says January.  All of the wonderful Christmas celebrations with friends and family are finally over....the tree is packed up and all the decorations are down.  Yes, it is cold outside and snow is all around us.  It is more overcast than sunny and so the business of life getting back to normal contends with my soul.

However, my word for this year of 2014 is JOY.....so what am I to do?  I have to wonder if GOD gives us this season to rest and reflect.....to really search inside of ourselves.... to take stock of where we are with our walk with HIM.  And so I ask.... am I studying enough?  Is my devotion to HIM diligent enough? What is enough?  I hear HIM say in response: "BE STILL."

PSALM 42: 11 says: "Why are you downcast , O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?"  I can't help but think that GOD works on your heart when you are least busy.....inner reflection is a hard thing sometimes. But if I am to be HIS servant, and bury my old self, then I must do this inner reflection and ask HIM to carve out of my heart what HE doesn't want there.  This is where the tough stuff begins....where I hold myself accountable to HIM, and NO ONE ELSE!  And with that I must look at my self and not compare myself with anyone either..  Comparison is always a losing battle....no.... I must look at who HE wants ME to be!

So I ask: is there too much pride?  Do I need to be more thankful?  Could I help others more?  What is enough?  The other night I woke up with the thought:  "with ME all things are possible."  GOD'S word is true!

When I think I fall short, and believe me that is every single day......HOPE sheds a new light on my downcast soul.  And GOD says: be "with ME."  It is a good thing to know that I am not alone in my reflection and that with HIM, HE will show me what I need to know if I seek HIM with my whole heart.

Knowing that HE will grow and mature me, better than I can all on my own, gives me that HOPE.  When I rest in this HOPE and pure TRUST of HIS mercy on me, then the outcome is pure JOY.

So my tough stuff is carried and when JESUS said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest," HE is saying to us, that HE walks alongside us....and we are never alone.

Our GOD is a HOLY GOD.  We should come before HIM on our knees asking for HIM to help us be the people HE wants us to be.....it is a full surrender.....a trust.....a death of self, and a realization that HE gives those who ask for it a discernment in these issues of the heart.  

When I ask the tough questions of HIM, I trust that HE will eventually answer in HIS own way and not mine.  In that surrender I know that I am no longer in control, HE is.  My burden becomes a little lighter then, during this gloom and doom time of year.  HE guides me with HIS precious WORD....a word that gives me HOPE and then JOY!  No matter what I am going through, or what is around me I come to a place where I discover that JESUS is the JOY of my heart and I pray in this New Year, that I will embrace that fact!

I thank HIM then, for bringing me to and eventually through the tough stuff of life..... when HE does and HE always does..... then HE is my JOY.... a JOY that I will treasure all through eternity. 

PROVERBS: 2: 3 ".... and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD."