What More Can Man Do To Me?

Again?  Again Lord?  Really?  Do you ever have those kinds of thoughts as you are going about your day and it seems that the world is out to get you.  Bumped out of a parking spot at Target, unkind words spoken about your character, missed an important meeting, late for a coffee date because of a detour, dishes piled in the sink and laundry waiting to be washed.  Again Lord?

I love when I get a text like this at 10:00pm "mom want to meet for coffee I am buying?" Even if I was ready for bed I will still throw on some clothes to go and meet with one of my kids.  This past week I did get a text like that and off I went.  Listening to heart of a young person sharing the "again" moments.  Then a statement "sometimes I think my smile is fake mom." I admitted that sometimes my smile is fake in a very real way.  This precious child of mine loves God so deeply and is passionate about God's presence that shows in his life daily.  So why the fake smile?  Again there will be things that rattle us, rob us, and try to yank joy from our hearts.  I asked if you allow the things of this world to rob you of that joy, or do you get that God is always with you. He said that God is always with me every moment of my life.  We sat and I smiled because he gets it even in the midst of the heart aches this world may have.

This late night coffee date with not just for him. It was for me too. I too have had a week of strange and unusual things that have not made sense. My heart rattled and yet in the midst of such adversities there is this smile on my face, that is real and true.  Why?  Because as much as I try there will always be those "again" moments, those "really" moments where we step back and my only source for understanding can only come from God. Not of this world.  Because surely "what more can man do to me?"

Psalm 55:16-19

 ¹⁶ As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. ¹⁷ Evening, morning and noon  I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ¹⁸ He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. ¹⁹ God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change—he will hear them and humble them,  because they have no fear of God. 
Psalm 56:3,4
When I am afraid I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What more can mortal man do to me? 
 
There is so much comfort to my heart to know these truths in my life.  So much joy that pours through my heart and comes out on my face with a smile that is not fake.  It is real, because if I camp my heart on the things of this world my face would look pretty old and decrepit because man will hurt, harm and fail you. I will hurt you and fail you, although it would never be my intentions yet it happens.  When my heart is fixed on Him, God's promises are true and the super natural ability to rise up and overcome steps into my heart in ways that only can come from God because I am not brilliant enough to figure these things out on my own.

Let the cries of your heart be known to God.  "Evening, morning, noon," He is there waiting to pour more of Him into you, to get you through.  Thanks Lord Jesus Father of my soul that you and only you can care so much for my heart. In distress you give me the promise of safety, and you lead me through unharmed. I praise you all day for your presence and peace over me. May your day be filled with a joy that comes only from what God can pour into you today. Blessings and Love Elizabeth