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evotionals
What New Thing?
(This is a devotional by Brenda Wood, a motivational speaker from Barrie, Ontario. Brenda is known for her common sense wisdom, sense of humour and quirky comments. Her latest book is the devotional, Heartfelt, 366 Devotions for Common Sense Living. You can see more about Brenda at www.brendawoodauthor.webs.com )I’ve suddenly come upon my age like my dad did when facing major surgery at 75. “It’s not the operation,” he said. “It’s just that I suddenly realize I’m old.” Lots of people give advice about aging. The trouble is they are young! Forget aging, they say. If you are six feet above the ground it is a good day. (Ha!)
I’m feeling crummy. There is no other word for it. I just turned the magic age of 65. Ever since, I’ve been fighting a nasty infection that just won’t stop. Four doses of meds and yet it recurs. That’s why these verses put me a little over the edge this a.m.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19.
Dwelling on the past? I admit that. “Where’s the new thing, God? Getting older and failing in health?? Sick all the time? Weak and frail? Not able to see straight to write, help with my grandchildren or even keep up my own life? I’m sorry, God, I do not perceive a new thing, unless it is pain, despair and self-pity. God, if You are making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland they must be really deep, because the only moisture I see is in my eyes.”
I got out a copy of Happy Daze: Life after 40, a Bible Study I wrote when I was well (and under 65!). It’s full of lots of happy-aging comments. Funnily enough, it flipped open at the page titled ‘Problems or Opportunities,’ and I was reminded that problems are:
| P- | predictors of behaviour |
| R- | reminders of truth |
| O- | opportunities for growth |
| B- | blessings in disguise |
| L- | lessons to learn |
| E- | everywhere. Look around. Everyone has them. |
| M– | Messages to get our attention |
| S- | solvable, because every miracle begins with a problem. |
And I read verses like this. So be truly glad! There is a wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is tough for a while down here (1 Peter 1:6 LB). These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether it is strong and pure (1 Peter 1:7 LB). So do not be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34 LB)
Oh!
It’s true. I’ve been living in a million days, half in the past and half in the future, when God tells me to live one at a time. Crummy feelings are a bad choice. Will I trust God? Do I believe that He’s doing His best for me, right now? Will I praise Him in the midst of it? Of course. Because blessed is the man/woman who trusts in the Lord, [no matter what] (Jeremiah 17:7 LB). Amen.
© Brenda Wood
