Precious Promises

Life is hard!

I'm sure I haven't just told you something you didn't already know. I can't imagine that those three words came as a shock to you or jolted you from your reality.

It seems many have been going through hard things lately. It is part of this thing we call life. It is not unexpected. Often the specifics of what may come our way is unexpected... but the reality that life is hard generally is not.

It seems that many have had so much of the unexpected, that their reality seems to easily now include these three words at times... life is hard! I know my reality now encompasses these words.

However, we can not stop there! Life may be hard, but God has not left us in this place. These three words do not need to stir up discouragement, disappointment, depression or loss of hope. Life may be hard... but there is even greater truth we can claim.

We have been given some very precious promises. He does not intend for us to trudge through life with a grim look on our face and a sad tone in our spirit. Regardless of what comes our direction, we do not have to be defeated.

Rather, His joy, peace, gladness and even victory is to accompany us on our journey. A sincere smile can grace our face and a light skip can be in our step. He has given us so many promises in His Word.

Beth Moore says, "God never forgets His promises. In turn, He intends for His children never to forget His faithfulness to fulfill them."

Sometimes, in the darkest of valley's, I find it a bit more difficult to remember those promises He has given. I struggle to remember that He will be faithful to fulfill them.

I want to remind myself of these promises. I need to remind myself of these promises. It seems when I am keeping them in the front of my thinking, the "life is hard" moments are easier to bear. I find the challenge is to be proactive and keep them in focus, ready and prepared.

In an effort to intentionally do that... every Monday here at "My Quiet Corner" I will be starting off the week with a precious promise that we can claim, that we are instructed to claim. It is ours for the taking! My hope is that it will not only remind me of that promise, but that it will do the same for you.

It will be a promise that I pray brings hope to a new week. A promise that becomes the focus. A reminder of what He has already guaranteed. A promise we can claim as our very own. A promise that we can cling to when all else seems to be crumbling around us.

Let us be reminded of and encouraged by His "Precious Promises" together...