Welcome to another guest post! You'll enjoy this post from Melanie Tucker, my sister-in-law! We both married into the Tucker family in the same year, and became fast friends. We also conspire together to figure out how to handle the crazy Tucker men in our lives, and as often as we're together, you'll probably find us sitting and chatting as we do our nails together.
“For I know the plans that I have
for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you
a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Despair!!! Please don’t linger there!!
Merriam-Webster’s definition of despair: “to
no longer have any hope or belief that a situation will improve or change”. Have you ever been there? Have you had that
hopeless, helpless feeling? I want to
share with you my journey into the pit of despair and how Gods wonderful
promises brought me from that place into a world of hope and joy!!
Almost three years ago I began on a
downhill spiral into the muck and mire of physical illness. It began with eye surgery that left me night
blind. Then I lost ¾ of the volume of my
hair in three months and began developing what I call leprosy- but by rights is
just skin rashes- on my face, hands, and body. I was diagnosed with more adult
onset allergies than you can even imagine: my kidney and liver were compromised,
and I was laid low with a debilitating back issue! Anyway, you get the idea- I was a mess!! I was in a downward spiral into the pits of
despair and I was sinking fast!!
My first step was to understand that in my
physical weakness, Satan has a much easier time getting into my head and
messing with my thoughts, so the strength of this verse helped me to focus: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the
strength of his might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able
to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10
The next step was to capture my spiraling
thoughts-analyze them and act accordingly!
And boy, oh boy, was I convicted here – yes, I was going through some
trials but I was wallowing in it!! I
wasn’t even trying to find a way out!!
So with some serious prayer, repentance, and mentoring, this wonderful
promise began to replace my ‘woe is me' with little sparkles of light in the
tunnel! “For he himself has said ‘I
will never leave you or forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). How can we not have hope with a promise as
strong as that?! Cora has taught us that
Gods promises are real and unbreakable so with strength pouring forth from his
promises he has given us the power to be strong and brave and have hope! “Wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave,
and wait for the Lords help” Psalm 27:14.
I cannot say that it was a short process
turning to Gods promises rather than despairing each day. I started by writing
on bright colored note-cards whatever promise the Holy Spirit had placed on my
heart near me for that day. Then I put those cards wherever I was going to see
them the most – on the mirror, the refrigerator, on the computer, in my purse, you
name it!! To this moment I still have
bright colored promises everywhere but I also have them buried in my heart
where they are always working and filling me with light when the darkness tries
to come in!!
Yes, many of my days are still full of
pain, and I am still working towards healing but I don’t travel my path alone
anymore as it is paved with Gods love, his blessed promises and his never
ending hope!
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men,
and he will dwell among them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will
be among them, and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will
no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, crying, or pain;
the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said,” Behold,
I am making all things new.” Revelation
21:3-5
- Melanie Tucker
