Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Another version words the second part like this: “plans to give you hope and a future.”

Here we are at the end of July. This year sure is flying by!

Here in New England, we have been slammed with 90-degree days for most of the summer. It seems to have just started tapering off a little bit ago. It’s rare for us to have that many consecutive days of high heat for so long. I think of when I lived in Tennessee and those high heat days lasted a lot longer than here. We’re not used to as much heat for so long here. We seek refuge in our air-conditioned homes.

Or if you live in a house built in the 1800’s, like I do, you do not have AC throughout the house, but several fans and an AC window unit. History, got to love it!

I fear I have rambled on much too long about weather and air conditioning or rather the lack of it.

Not comparing the heat and lack of AC to the fiery furnace in Daniel….but have you ever felt like you’ve been in a trial in your life that’s felt like a furnace figuratively?

No reprieve from the heat of the trial. Nothing may seem to be going right. Or you may feel like you’re being hit with one trial after another. Where is the clearing where we can get a breath of fresh air?

Like I had mentioned in my previous post, I had gone through a very low time in my life. My life had felt stagnant. I felt stuck with no sure path or direction. My brother encouraged me to consider a certain path. After thinking and praying about it, I did feel a peace and decided to pursue it.

After applying to an opportunity and having an interview a few days ago, yesterday I was offered the opportunity. This has felt such God-driven. I’m so excited to see how God leads.

To be completely honest, this has felt like the biggest blessing in about a year and a half.

While I’m very excited, I can’t help but thank God and reflect on the tough journey I was going through.

I had felt like I was in a furnace of trial for so long. So long, that I wasn’t sure if I was somehow cursed.

A bit dramatic? Perhaps. To be clear, I didn’t actually think I was cursed, I had just felt like I was in a never-ending drought.

Imagine if I had decided to give up. What if I had decided to quit? I would never have received this blessing.

How often do people give up and give in potentially right before a huge blessing?

We never know what God has for us right around the corner.

We need to stay vigilant. Satan is going to do all that he can to deter us from following God.

God is working, even when it may not feel like it. God can take our mustard seed-sized faith and do amazing things.

We have to keep trusting. No matter how hard it gets, don’t quit.

While we have breath in our lungs, God has a purpose for us.

Who knows what God has for us? Only He does.

Keep on hoping. Keep on trusting.

God is working.

Don’t give up.

Joshua 1:9

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Matthew 19:26

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”