Do you ever feel as though you’re navigating your way through life in a “waiting for the other shoe to drop” kind of metaphorical existence?
I’m no expert, but I believe that’s part of the promise found in Scripture in John 16:33 which states: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” Which when read, quite frankly makes your Spirit Man say “Yuck!”
I’ve had my share of trials and sorrows. Who hasn’t? The last two years, however, I’ve had more trials than I can count; specifically, through physical attacks on my body. Nothing major, mind you, just normal age-related stuff due to the semi-serious dating relationship I’ve been having with “Mr. Menopause.” I’ve been a veritable powderkeg of hormones! My family is ready to buy me a one-way ticket to anywhere so they can have a break from me.
The most debilitating part of these physical attacks has been the brain fog and forgetfulness that comes with those unpredictable hormones. Trying to complete a sentence or a thought oftentimes requires me to stop mid-sentence for a mental nap as I struggle to remember what I was going to say.
My daughter has dubbed this malady “Menstrual-heimers” which is a combination of menstrual brain fog and age-related Alzheimers forgetfulness. That makes me think of the song John-Jacob-Jingle-Heimer-Scmidt. You know … his name is my name too. But for me it’s more like … His name is my name too. Whenever I go out, I forget what I’m about; there goes John-Jacob Menstrual-Heimer Schmidt! Da-da-da-da-da-da-da! (Great, now that song will be stuck in my head all day!)
It’s funny though, as I struggle to remember what I went in the kitchen for, the enemy can bring to mind some horrible sin I committed 35 years ago like it was yesterday! Seriously? What’s that all about? The enemy is good that way.
I’ve spent the last two years writing a fiction novel about the power of The Name of God and innocent child-like faith. (Sorry, shameless self-promotion there!) The enemy is unhappy about me spreading the gospel through the written word and has thrown “trials and sorrows” at me hoping to distract me from completing my mission. He’s good that way, too.
My gifting is in my creative thinking so Satan wants nothing more than to destroy my God-given ability because it threatens him and his kingdom of darkness.
Whatever your gifts and talents may be, expect the enemy to attack most diligently in that area. If you’ve got a mission or ministry from God to share the gospel in any format, you can believe Satan will do everything in his power to send trials and sorrows your way. Satan’s job is to distract you from following Christ and being all that you can be for God’s Kingdom.
We should expect the attacks, the trials and sorrows, but we need to ask ourselves if the trial could merely be a speed bump designed to keep us from completing a mandate from God.
Luckily for us, John 16:33 also comes with a promise that reassures our Spirit Man with the words, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Carrying God’s promises around in our hearts is vital because our memories often fail us – especially when we’re under some sort of an attack. But thank goodness God’s Word never fails, and even if the other shoe should happen to drop, we can rest in the knowledge that God’s got everything under control, and He indeed has overcome the world.
Blessings in Christ,
Kathy K.
Hi Kathy! You said “normal age-related stuff”. It’s interesting that you bring this up. Recently I’ve been thinking about how science/medicine tells women that this is what they should expect. But God came to give us abundant life. Christ redeemed us from the curse. So what part of menopause speaks of God and His kingdom? Loss of bone mass? Hormone imbalance? Increased risk for heart attack? Instead of accepting these things, which aren’t what God made us for, what if women rejected what the devil has for them? What if women used their God given power to heal and bind & loose? That’s what I plan on doing. I reject the lie that we have to just to receive these thing. Yes we will die someday because in Genesis God says He limits our years to 120 but He doesn’t say we have to be decrepit when we die. Just my thoughts. 🙂
Kathy, you crack me up! I’m glad your sense of humor has stayed intact. I love you.
HMMM…… AFTER THAT ALL BEING SAID THE GOOD LORD IS STILL THE GREAT PHYSICIAN– AMEN!! WITH MAKING LIGHT OR POKING FUN AT ANY PHYSICAL PROBLEM MAY RESULT IN A NICE GIGGLE OR TWO GRANTED, BUT TRULY CHRIST HIMSELF STATED THAT YOU WILL HAVE WHAT YOU SAY BECAUSE IT IS INDEED A SPIRITUAL LAW. WHEN VERBALLY COMING AGAINST ANY IMPOSING HEALTH SYMPTOMS BY PROCLAIMING YOU DON’T RECEIVE THEM IN JESUS’ MIGHTY AUTHORITIVE NAME IS KEY. FOR THIS IS INDEED HOW SCRIPTURE INSTRUCTS BELIEVERS ON HOW TO BECOME MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. IF YOU BELIEVE FIRMLY WITHIN YOUR SPIRIT AND ARE FULLY PURSUADED YOU NEED SPEAK THE DESIRED RESULTS…..THIS IS TO SAY THAT YOU DON’T TELL IT LIKE IT IS, BUT ONLY AS YOU DESIRE IT TO BE. OTHERWISE EXPRESSED AS TO BE CALLING/PROFESSING FOR THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NOT THE WAY YOU PRESENTLY DESIRE THEM TO BE JUST AS THOUGH THEY ALREADY ARE.. WE ABSOLUTELY FRAME OUR WORLD WITH THE VERY WORDS THAT WE SPEAK AND WE SHOULD BE CONSCIENCE OF WHAT WE CHOOSE TO SAY SINCE WE REAP THE RESULTS FROM THE VERY WORDS WE SOW. JESUS CURSED THE FIG TREE BY WHAT HE SAID TO IT. BLESSINGS AND CURSINGS ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE AND WE SHALL HAVE WHAT WE HAVE SAID. CHARLES CAPPS BOOK ON THE TONGUE A CREATED FORCE ELABORATES ON THIS SPIRITUAL TRUTH AND HAS PROVIDED GREAT INDEPTH WISDOM ON THE WORDS WE SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE SPEAKING. I HAVE PERSONALLY LEARNED HOW TO VOICE WHAT GOD SAYS I CAN HAVE IN ORDER TO POSSESS THE PROMISES OF GOD IN MY LIFE. WORK THE WORDS OF THE LORD AND HAVE THE BLESSINGS FLOW TOWARDS YOU!!