Oh that we would teach our children to yield!  What the world teaches is to stand strong for yourself, be proud of who you are.  Don't let anyone tell you what to do.  You know yourself best, take care of yourself.  Oh, what lies the devil tells! 

Each day, I am learning.  Learning to trust God, to yield to His will.  How much simpler had I been taught obedience and trust instead of wariness and self-preservation!  How much more joy would I have instead of my defiance rearing its ugly head!  How do I cut the head off the beast??!!  I know God is worthy of my trust; it is the day to day living of that trust, of walking by faith not by sight that is so difficult for one so defensive. 

And now, with the illness of my niece looming constantly in my mind, I have no choice but to trust.  I have no power over the situation.  I cannot control the surgeons, the tumor, the outcome, her brain's response to repeated surgeries.  But still, I worry, I wonder, I search the internet for alternatives.  I have everything but the quiet heart I long for.  Why do I fight what I want most?  Why do I hold onto what I can't keep so tightly?  And how do I force open the fist of my heart?

By placing my niece at the foot of the cross.  (It seems so easy, doesn't it?) By praying in God's will.  By accepting the lot and portion assigned to me by my Heavenly Father because He knows best what I need, what my niece needs.  (I remember the words of Elisabeth Elliot, "In acceptance lieth peace.")  He sees the greater picture....  The reason behind the disaster.  Remember, "what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Creator calls the butterfly."  I will rest in His promises, minute by minute.  Psalm 34:17-19 "Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to Him for hlp, and saves him out of all his troubles.  The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins.  The good man does not escape all troubles- he has them, too.  But the Lord helps him in each and every one." (TLB) 

I look forward to the day I will 'count all things joy.'  I pray my faith is enlarged that I may look beyond immediate circumstances and see the situation in the light of God's will.  James 1:2 "When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends." (Phillips' translation) 

I pray that each of you reading this comes to this kind of understanding, too.  That we all may welcome all circumstances in the hope that the outcome will be a closer, more confident walk with Christ.

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