Renee🌻

The “Worst” is Never the Worst

“Show me a token for good;…because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.” Psalms 86:17

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

  • a memory or recollection
  • a thing kept or given as a reminder or in commemoration of someone.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that BELIEVE to the saving of the soul.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:32, 35-39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Prayer changes my perspective most every single time. Notice, I said “most.” There have been times, I confess, I have laid down my heavy napsack of burdens and worries in prayer, only to pick it right back up again after carefully laying out my petitions before the Lord. As if it was one of my clingy toddlers back when they insisted on being glued to my hip, as I attempted to cook. A familiarity.

Everyone can agree there is a feeling of uncertainty in the air – so thick that it could be sliced with a butter knife. Quite a few are wondering what will come next in this new chapter of their lives.

I was reminded this morning not to worry, as I woke up in the early morning hours and found my mind wondering, again, towards the “panic mode” the world is currently in. I confess, it tried to get a hold of me. The picture of the almost emptied shelves in the grocery store yesterday will forever be burned into my memory.

The most expensive cuts of meat were left, most milk gone, bread gone. We will have to make bread. This country girl will survive.

But instead of focusing on the bad and the negative, we need to remember the good God has already done. The verse of scripture that filtered into my prayers, was the one on REMEMBRANCE.

It’s a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God!

“I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

GOD’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.

GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times.

When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst.

Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way:”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:19-33‬ ‭

All through scripture, the children of Israel were instructed to REMEMBER the good works God had performed in their lives.

Remember the times past when He paid the bills, even if they were a little late? And somehow, there was always food on the table? He works by the skin of our teeth, So often!

I’m speaking to myself here—Through these tests, the “trying of my faith,” God is teaching me to walk by faith and not by sight! If I go by what I’m seeing right now, I may get a little squirrelly….

God knows we all are human and are very concerned for the future. This fretting often times causes us to forget what He has already done for us. Journaling is almost like building a memorial, in my opinion, like what the children of Israel did each time God blessed or did something that changed their life. This is one of the reasons I have journaled in the past. Taking a fresh look at the blessings He has done for me personally through the years, renews my faith and perspective. I really need to get back to doing that!

Bethel, formerly called Luz, was where Jacob dreamed of a ladder that reached from earth to heaven with the angels of God ascending and descending on it. (How cool that would be to witness?!) Where God spoke to him, blessed him, and where a pillar was erected from the stone he laid his head upon to sleep.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

May those stones of memorial be a sign among us, that will serve as a reminder of God’s token of love toward us. When our children ask in time to come, “What mean ye by these stones?” We shall respond in turn, “They are memories of how we endured, which grew our faith strong!”
‭‭‬‬

If God has done it before, He can do it again! I know that whatever I have to go through or endure, my God has already planned it in my life. I pray for HIS WILL to be done, and God will take care of the rest!

Do I get antsy in weak moments? Sure I do! I can’t help it. I’m human. We all are. But we can and will stand strong and focused on Him through these trying times! Because we have each other as fellow believers to lean upon, as our own personal cheerleaders and prayer partners! And to remind us that….

The “worst” is never the worst!

Let’s pray!:

Dear Lord Jesus, we are humbly asking for your help to remember all the good things you have already done for us. Let these memorials come up as platelets before us and serve as a reminder that you always come through! No matter what! You remain in control. Please help calm our every fear and help our faith to grow stronger! Keep our families and blogging community safe, fed and healthy! In Jesus Name we pray, amen!

Here is the original pic of another heart token—After I zoomed in on the picture, I was shocked to see it there! The light was reflecting onto my bedroom mirror right on to my face! It reminds me of the scripture,
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:6, 8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I have more hearts to share! 💜😁 Will wait and share in another post.

Published by Renee🌻

Life is a series of lessons we learn by way of the school of hard knocks. I feel I have a degree in this one. It has made me who I am today--I am Renee--My name is French, meaning Reborn. I believe there is a lot in a name, because that's just who I am. Spirit-filled. Encourager. Reader. Author. Blogger. Lover of love, God, His Word, hearts, dragonflies, nature and coffee!~❤️Aka Nonna. 3 grand-boys, 3 grand-daughters-- 2 girls. 💌 Married 28 years. “May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”~~Irish Blessings~~

46 comments

  1. Aww lovely! Yes, and keep our blogging com safe too! To all the awesome bloggers out there who keep creating and inspiring—God’s blessings🙏🏻
    Renee, I love your honesty, optimism and 💜😍💚

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  3. Thank you for sharing your heart so openly. ❤ I, too, have been thinking about the memorial stones in Bible times that were set in place to remind God’s people of the miracles He had done for them. I feel in my spirit that as I write my memoir, my writing of my testimony is similar to those old memorial stones.

    And you know… we can’t have a testimony without a test!

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    • Linda, you are welcome! I feel by your also feeling this in your spirit, it’s just a confirmation to what God wants us all to realize. When the going gets tough, we remember that we have never seen an instance where we were forsaken! I’m glad you are writing your memoir. It was tough going through what you have been through, but here you are—on the other side, picking up stones! (That reminded me of an old sermon I heard on that very subject) You are so right, no testimony without a test!

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  4. Thank you! I needed this right now. I just got news that my church won’t be having church this week because of the Coronavirus…. I haven’t been taking it very well, but I am going to go pray about it. I know it is in God’s hands and this is just a temporary problem.🙏🏻

    I’ve been praying for you and your family lately. ❤

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    • Awe V, I’m so sorry! 😞 There’s one thing we can stand on, that God is in control!
      We just got the word that we will have one service Sunday morning only…😢 I’m honestly not afraid to go to church, in times like these. God knows my tomorrow, no matter where I’m at. I’m so sorry y’all not having church at all!
      We will definitely believe it’s just temporary. How are the parents?
      Oh goodness, that humbles me to know that you are praying for me. I feel those prayers! How can any of us make it without our friends praying for us? Thanks so much. Will keep praying f for you and your family! It’s gonna be alright girl!💜🌈🍀

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      • He is definitely in control! We are having 1 service but it will be online. We all will be listening to it online. It’s better than nothing!

        My parents are good! It makes me happy everytime I come home from church with them and I’m not alone anymore.😍 My mom is currently sick tho, keep her in your prayers.

        I’ve been praying daily for y’all! We wouldn’t be able to make it without one another praying for us.❤

        Thank you for the prayers!🙂

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      • I am seriously feeling those prayers! It is getting us through! We have online services that is a total blessing if you are sick and can’t make it to service. I’m glad that at least you are having that much!
        You have no idea how much that touches my spirit to know that you are not alone! Even thought you always had Jesus, but there’s nothing like having family beside us at church!!! 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
        So sorry your mom is sick! Will be praying for her! You are welcome, and thank you, as well. 🤗💜

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Renee, the Israelite in the wilderness had everything provided to them, yet they complained.
    So, they wandered around the wilderness for forty years.
    To stop worrying, first we must be thankful for what has already been supplied. So, if that was supplied then it goes without saying tomorrow’s needs will also be supplied.
    Christ told the disciples not to worry about tomorrow. They were to only take one coat. He reminded them about the sparrow and how it had it’s needs met.
    I am always thankful every day for that which I have, no matter how big or small it may seem. I have a roof above my head, I have food, God is a good God!

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  10. Your title sent me down a rabbit hole. I have Tim Hawkins’ DVD titled, That’s the Worst. In the comedy routine of the same name, he jokes about people using superlatives. In the YouTube version, he could barely get the punchline out without cracking up himself.

    All joking aside, social distancing may actually teach us a few new skills. We are always entertaining ourselves with external stimuli, mostly friends and electronics. This stay at home stuff might alter our perspectives, once the younger ones quit pouting.

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    • Hawkins is funny! Chonda Pierce is a hoot, as well! Will try to find that and give a listen! Thanks!

      It’s altering a lot of things! Perspective- most definitely! We rely on too much, it seems, from stores, entertainment, and felt those things would always be there. Like disposable diapers, wipes and toilet paper, for instance.

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  12. Thank you Renee. I enjoyed reading this. I’m thankful God is still on the throne and is bigger than any negative circumstances. I pray you and your family remain safe and healthy. 🤗

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