Walking in Trouble...

 Hi friends,

It goes without saying that we all walk through times of trouble in life - none of us are exempt. If the last year has taught us anything then it should teach us that trouble can unexpectantly and traumatically interrupt our lives, and it can last for a short while or for much longer than we would like or imagine. The stories that are recorded in the Bible also show us that trouble is common to people of every time and place (we can also study history to see this). In fact, in Scripture we have been given not only stories of trouble, but the way people responded to it.

In the Psalms we see people wrestling with their emotions in response to the trouble they are experiencing, whether externally or internally. We have been given the gift of many lament psalms which show how we are to come to God in our trouble, not pretending that everything is fine but pouring out our heart (even our complaint!) to God. We have also been shown that it is possible to stand firm in the confidence and hope we have in God, knowing that he will preserve us during the trouble, even before he brings us out of it.

Psalm 138:7 says 'Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.' There are a couple of things in this verse that struck me. First, it says 'in the midst of trouble' which indicates that this it not a wish that everything would get better in a hurry, that the storm would blow over, or that things could get back to normal. No, the psalmist acknowledges that he is still walking in the midst of trouble, yet it is right in the middle of the mess and turmoil that God is there, preserving and saving. Secondly, the word 'life' struck me, because while the psalmist may have been talking simply about being kept physically alive, I think it could mean more than that. Perhaps it is a statement of faith in God's ability and willingness to preserve abundant life, even in the midst of trouble. We don't have to just survive the trouble, but we can thrive within it with the help of God. 

On this page I created a background with gelatos and a baby wipe, stencilling some Nuvo mousse over the top using the Puffy Clouds and Grunge Dots stencils. The boots are a new digi set this month called Cute Boots. I printed it on clear sticker paper and coloured with coloured pencils before cutting out and sticking to the page. The verse was created with a combination of sets: School Days Alpha, Messy Stamped Alpha, Trust in the Lord, His Love, and Life in Jesus. 

Let's be people who cry out to God in our trouble, knowing that he preserves our life and gives us his life in the midst of whatever we may be facing.

Be blessed...

x Amy x