I Want to Be Held!

    Life has been taking all of us through some very rough times.  Chaotic at times,  frustrating and wearisome at time, and sometimes we are angry, or we are deeply sad.  
    As I sat with my Lord this morning, tired and discouraged: I started my daily prayers but soon said, "Lord, I just want to be held.  Like that contented child in your lap, like at little lamb, tenderly stroked by Your Hand. I just want to be held." 
   It was then that I noticed the writing on my coffee cup--"Be still and know God." It was also at that moment that the Holy Spirit came into my mind with these words.
   "To be a contented child in His lap--you must be still.  You must not be restless, or distracted.   You must be very aware that you are in HIS LAP, God the Almighty, all Loving and all Understanding God is there and holding you.  You must be still and rest in that Knowledge."
   Still I was and peace came over me---and then inspired to seek 'A Word' from God, I opened at random the Bible at hand. 

Baruch 4, verse 27
  "27. Take courage, my children, call on God: he who brought this on you will remember you. 28. As by your will you first strayed from God, so now turn back and search for him ten times harder; 29. for as he has been bringing down those disasters on you, so will he rescue you and give you eternal joy. 30. Take courage, Jerusalem: he who gave you your name will console you." 

  
  As always, I am led to exactly what is needed to be heard in my heart.  
   "Take courage."   In the past week, things have happened at work that had me wondering, "oh God, am I on the right path or has working at nights been "my will and not yours?"  
   My husband needs dental work, two crowns, so I must work 3 shifts to get that insurance.   But work turned out to be much harder and more stressful and like a hard workout---hard on my body too. 
    Secondly, as Father Jerome Kodell said in his talk Friday---"we are slaves if we are being controlled by a MASTER.   When God is our Master then we are free."  He then asked, "What 'master' is controlling our life?"     I knew what was controlling mine---WORK.   My schedule was time consuming and my spiritual life and ability to go where He leads took second place in my life.
   So, Verse 28, sunk in deep and I know that I must 'choose' what must be done to get back to being  a 'servant for God.'  Sure I am a blessing at work to those I care for, but the schedule and the area that I work in MUST change OR it is time to 'walk on the water' again, trust in the Lord, and quit.  That greener pasture has turned out to be a desert and left me dry, thirsting for all that walking with God brings into my life.
Verse 29 is interesting---but true.   God does allow problems and disasters to come into our life so that we grow in Wisdom and mature Spiritually in our walk with Him.   It is indeed wonderful to be held in HIS Lap but it is also awesome to be at His side as 'WE' go forth among the people and experience His wonderous ways as we obey and serve our Master/Lord God.
   Now as for Verse 30---I was writing all these thoughts and reflections down in my Journal and wrote--"So, take courage, Elizabeth Johanna  Marie (all of me) He who gave you your name WILL CONSOLE you."  God gave me my name and THAT is important to me.  Just as giving me all in my life--is for a reason and a why. Yes, Lord and thank You!"
   (If you know me, you know that I have gone by many names at least 9---and that alone is important for all of us to know---our names--will reflect on who we are, and what comes into our life too.   Another reflection or blog soon to come.)  

Peace be with you and please BE STILL for awhile so you can be Held like a contented child in His Lap.