Family vacation was oh so nice. I usually leave the beach with aspirations to one day live there. But then, I question. Would I value that wonderment of God’s creation if I soaked it in every single day? Or would it, like so many blessings in my life, be taken for granted? Probably the latter. Unfortunately.
The comings and goings of vacations are similar to life. In life, we experience good times and bad. Scripture tells us that in this life, you will have trouble. But, it’s in our trouble, in our pain, that God reveals a little more of Who He is. And, as a result, we are better for it. If not better for going through the trial in itself, but who we learn that God is in that trial. When we choose to endure hard times God’s way, He makes Himself known in ways that we could not imagine. It could be seeing God’s provision during a financially difficult time. A friend calling you when you are feeling indescribably lonely. Losing a child and waking up the next morning wondering how you are even breathing.
I will never, ever forget sitting in my house on Sweetbriar Lane with my eight week old baby boy. John Henry was asleep. I was sitting in my living room chair sobbing. I was lonely. The despair I was feeling hurt so deeply. I heard a knock at the door. It was my friend, Stacey. I yelled for her to come in. She did. And, she saw a young, single mother cradled up in a chair with tears soaking her shirt. What does Jesus look like? He looked a lot like Stacey Beheler that night. She dropped in to give me some things for John Henry. But, God used her to give me much more that night.
The Bible says that His grace is sufficient. A mother who has lost a child has a greater measure of grace than one who has not. God gives his grace as we need it. And, He measures it exactly right.
I don’t invite tough times. But, I also know that without them, we take for granted the good. During those times, we see and feel the love of God like no other time. And, it forever changes who we are.
I would like to be back in a beach chair with my toes in the sand. I’m not. But, when I am again, it will be oh so nice.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
DustyTakle.com 
Over the five years I’ve been at my job I’ve always known that my boss is a Christian but very rarely does it come up until something very devastating happens and unfortunately, for some reason, it has happened more frequently than one would think it would or that I care to talk about. It is in those times that I am able to minister and witness to him and him to me. Here lately, we have both felt an immense loss but I have been so filled with the Holy Spirit that it keeps me going. Jim says he wants to run away some days and wants me to take care of everything so I just keep praying that he doesn’t lose sight of what God is doing in his life and I keep praying that God gives me strength to keep on keepin’ on. I have faith in God’s plan for us and I KNOW that HE will not forsake us and I pray that God will continue to help me find the appropriate opportunities to witness His love to Jim so that he will continue to fight the fight with me. God is so good and we are here for a reason. Let His will be done, let me work another day so I can testify His love for me to one more person, so He can shine through me to one more customer. We have huge challenges ahead of us but they are nothing that we can’t overcome through Christ that lives within us.
I love your blog page. It is always a good read, and always inspiring. You have helped put things in prospective for me on several occasions. For that I am greatly appreciative. Thank you for letting God use you to help people like me. And thank you for referencing a 1994 R&B classic… Back to Life Back to Reality…. Soul II Soul. Sweet. Move ya, lean it.
Funny, Jesus has looked like a lot of my friends, too 🙂
I think I would still like to “Try” the living at the Beach thing!
Dusty, that was really good. I just got back from Atlanta again. My daughters were the Jesus Lookalikes this past week. A few nurses too. And about the Grace of God? I drew from it alot. thank you for the reminders, it helped me be grateful, when I was not at the time. lol, ilu
I don’t evennnnnnn like to think about those painful days but i do admire the way you handled them and redeemed them to help others 🙂
And, on many an occasion,,,, Jesus has looked a lot like YOU!!! Thank you for sharing your gift!