My Uncle is So Cool

I have been rather discouraged lately. Work has been incredibly difficult, my school work is suffering and I'm quite certain my kids don't know my name. They see the back of me as I walk out the door in the morning, the side of me as I sit at my computer to do school work, and the top of my head as they peek in on Saturday mornings as I sleep. Yesterday I had had enough...I came home and just sat on the bed and cried. Jim consoled me the best he could, he just sat and listened.

So today I check my email while I'm listening to my Professor talk about the changes in the DOD 5000 series of instruction which covers the topics I'm learning in his class. I scanned through the email to find a message from my Uncle Larry entitled Encourage. I waited until after class to read his message out of respect, mind you. However, his message is just what I needed to read at the moment that I'm struggling to get from point A to point B with my sanity intact. At the bottom of his message is a link to his blog. I love blogs so I naturally I clicked over to his blog. I scanned through several and found one that really struck a chord...I'll let you read it and then I'll say why:

Last Night's Election

This time last night we were glued to the TV, watching the election returns. Tonight, the election is over and historic decisions have been made that will certainly impact the future of our nation and the world. Whether or not our candidate or cause won, we can certainly celebrate the fact that we are a nation of the people, and for the people. Over 133 million people voted this year, the largest percentage of registered voters in over forty years! We should give thanks for our freedom to vote and participate in the greatest democracy the world has ever seen.

We need to remember however, our future as followers of Christ, is not determined by elections. There is only one person in control of our future. As Corie ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

Learning to trust Him is a lifetime journey – one that can be exciting and life-changing if we keep our focus on the One who loves us beyond our wildest imagination. It is vitally important that we follow what the writer of Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith . . .” I trust you are looking to Him tonight, and will continue to do so as we journey together as a nation, as communities, as congregations and families.

Larry Doyle

I don't know why but I am often marveled at the people in my life who seem to have it all together. Those who appear to have no trouble trusting in God. Though God has never let me down and I can quote plenty scripture about hope, I struggle with anxiety. There was a time when I would wake up in the middle of the night with severe panic attacks. I even went on medication for a time. When I read the words of my Uncle..."learning to trust is a lifetime journey..." I have hope. Not just hope that maybe I am not alone in my struggle with anxiety, fear, or whatever your struggle is. But rather hope that it's okay that trust is an every day kind of walk. So, join me won't you in as we learn to trust Jesus..."the author and finisher of our faith."