Funny how our own wisdom can trip us up...We may know something, but that doesn’t mean that we can always live it. I loved the last blog I wrote about applying faith by embracing our challenges by putting it into the hands of the Lord. It was working and I was doing well! Until.... my next chemo treatment. I lost my focus. Fear stepped in and side effects became even harder to cope with. I was physically and emotionally struggling. I didn’t have the energy to figure out what was different. So many tears! I had lost the peace of mind that I had before. I needed it to return. I’m sad to admit that I gave in to the fear and became weak instead of embracing the challenge and doing what the spirit had taught me to do. I missed getting the results that were so fulfilling before. Knowing that I had let myself, my family and my Father in Heaven down, I determined that I had to change things back to be ready for the next round. I read uplifting verses and inspiring books. I opened up to the love and prayers of family and friends. I took some time to define my ‘Journey to Wholeness’ with more intent. I wanted to choose JOY! I was able to push the fear away as I began counting blessings. In order to turn things around and ‘choose joy’, I found that I also needed to understand more fully the purpose of suffering, pain, weakness and sin; that it is suppose to go on...to continue, one way or another! I know that life if full of suffering and will always require it. It’s part of our purpose. I am put here to grow through all the challenges that come my way. I needed to understand that God gave them to me with purpose and intent! They will never go away. It was then when I began to understand on a greater level that God will never leave me alone in my suffering, whatever it is. I might turn my back on Him because of my fears, but He will never leave me! He is there for me, and with me, through each trial. With greater understanding, a new vision of my intent, deeper prayers and a Priesthood Blessing, I went to my next chemo treatment with hope and courage, I was choosing joy by counting blessings and knew that with the Lords help I could do this....again. I am happy to report that as I focused on Joy and allowed myself to understand that there was purpose in this experience,...the Lord’s purpose and He was there with me and for me, It turned out so much better. I was able to feel the strength and peace that He gave me before. It was so much easier to endure the same side effects as before, just by focusing on joy and embracing the Lord and His plan for me. Even though we are suffering, we are not intended to feel doomed or lost or left to be in pain alone. He is there, waiting for us to choose joy, by acknowledging each blessing, tender mercy and gift that He so lovingly bestows. Even though our struggles can blind us to everything that we are blessed with. A choice to see our blessings and our gifts, can dim the pain and the problems so that joy, hope and peace can be ours. Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. What is right with your world? Are you seeing the blessings before you? Have you defined your vision for your life or your journey so that you can know what your real intent is? I pray we can always trust God to bring us to our desired destination........Wholeness. Thankfully now, my tears......tears of Joy! ARTWORK: The art work I chose to go with this piece is titled, “Mended”. I painted it to depict the gift of love that is so precious and is bestowed on each us daily, no matter what our trials or pain may be. I hope it can be a reminder that even though we are suffering, we are not intended to feel doomed or lost or left to be in pain alone....find the blessings, feel the love and ‘Choose JOY!’ VISION MAPPING: For anyone that might feel the need to define your vision for your life or your journey, as I have, I have included a download of my ‘5 Step Vision Mapping’ form that you might find helpful in pursuing your vision for your life. You will find it in my 'Motivators' Section. Good luck on all your ventures!
3 Comments
Anita
3/25/2018 07:49:40 am
Thanks Jeannie, I needed this!
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Micala
3/25/2018 10:03:09 pm
You’re amazing! These words came today during my own struggles. Thank you for pulling me out of my funk! Prayers for your continued whisperings that tend to heal others as well as yourself. God wants all of us to find joy in our journey! Love you!
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AuthorHi I'm Jeannie Puzey, Archives
October 2018
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