God’s Consolation

 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:19 NIV

Thank you for your prayers. I am improving a little bit each day, and slowly gaining my strength. I’m so grateful to be feeling better.

The complications I experienced came on suddenly, no warning, seemingly out of nowhere. They were traumatic. I’ve had them before, but it’s still a shock when they hit my body. Usually, they are months apart. This time I had two rounds of them just three days apart. I was still trying to recover from the first round when the second round hit.

All this has left me feeling anxious. I don’t know when I’ll be “hit” again. I’ve dealt with anxiety before in the last hard years, but this is anxiety at a new and deeper level. I’m having to learn how to press deeper into the Lord, to cling to Him each time I feel anxious.

I’ve learned through the years that I will deal with something, learn from it and how to cope with it. I then feel like I’ve “conquered” the lesson…but it will come up again. It’s not that I’ve failed or haven’t learned the lesson, it’s just the Lord allowing me to learn it at a much deeper level. I think that’s what is happening now. Please pray for me to learn how to deal with this challenging anxiety! Fear, worry, and anxiety are not from the Lord! Already I’m learning not to give the anxiety a minute’s hold on my heart and mind. I must take it immediately to the Lord to receive His peace and grace.

There are dozens and dozens of verses about not being anxious. When anxiety crops up in my heart and mind, I proclaim and pray those verses. It helps me immediately. I’m so grateful I don’t have to walk alone through the trials of life. The Lord has already provided promises and instruction for how to deal with them.

Lord, we know You walk with us through every fire, storm, flood, darkness, and danger. Help us to trust You more. Amen.

Editor’s Note: Sally’s helper has written to say that since Sally wrote this devotional, she is again quite weak and unable to write or do her usual activities. Sally asks us to pray for her.