Testimony Friday

Two weeks I ago I posted about waiting. I was in a place of waiting. Not so much for some thing, but for a heart change and an attitude adjustment that I desperately needed. I had let the pressures of life build up and lost sight of some truths. This was something I had been trying for months to rectify in my own strength, but to no avail.

My waiting post was an act of surrender. It was a confession to my Lord that I needed Him to do the work in me that I couldn't do myself. He alone could be the transformer of this wicked heart of mine. And do you know what? He did it.

As I sat up late typing that night, a peace swept over my soul. No fireworks, no drama, no instant knowledge of renewal and regeneration. Just a quiet and gentle peace.

When I woke up the next morning, my heart was in a different place. The old stuff wasn't bugging me as much. The will of my flesh had subsided and my spirit was at rest. I realized that my act of surrender was more than words on a page, it had been a true transformation of my heart. God had allowed to me to come to the end of myself, and my SELF was a little more dead than she had been the day before.

All this to proclaim how perfect God's timing is. I had been carrying that big old bag of burden for far too long. I knew it and God knew it. And it was time for me to let that big old bag of burden go. I didn't know that, but God did.

You see, the following afternoon Steve gave me the unexpected news that he will soon be laid off. This month or next, we're not sure, but it's coming. It was a shock. He had been guaranteed work at least through November, so although we knew there was a potential end in sight, it was far enough down the road that we weren't especially concerned.

Well, things change. And that changed.

But it's okay. It really is. And we're okay. There is peace in this house about it. There is peace in our hearts. Oh yes, from time to time we pick up the worry and we begin to fret and stew, but then we remember it really won't help anything and we pray.

We know who our Provider is. So this isn't a bad thing. In fact, we're rather excited to see what God is going to do.

My testimony, however, is this: God dealt with my heart on issues completely unrelated to Steve's job in His perfect timing. He heard the cry of my waiting lamentation and took care of that thing, because only He knew that come tomorrow I was going to have a new thing to give Him. And because He had just proven Himself in that thing, giving Him the new thing wasn't so difficult.

Instead of killing me, it strengthened me. He freed me up and gave me the portion I needed in His amazingly perfect, incredible timing.

And that is the power and love and grace and mercy of our God. He will not give us more than we can bear. His word says it. He is faithful to prove it.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:2-8