It has been my experience that asking why never helps in the moment of crisis. Several years back I was crying out over what I thought were unfair, unbearable circumstances in my life. I cried out “Why God, Why, Why me?” and I heard a soft voice beside me saying, “why not you?”
In that soft , gentle way that God has, I knew immediately that it was not a harsh thing He was saying to me, just a realsistic statement of truth — the Word says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust just the same. Sometimes there are not whys that I can understand. In fact, if God told me why, He would have to apologize to Job. When Job asked that question, God never answered it at all. His answer to Job is the same one He has given to me in tough times. “I am God, you are not.”
My prayer now is not to ask “why” anymore — instead I say — “God, you are God and I trust you, what do you want me to do today?” and then do it. I know, sometimes that is easier said than done, but with practice it does get easier.

Dear Therese,
It is 3:30 am, here in Michigan. This is the first time I have ever read Beyond Blue, and I am glad I stumbled upon your page. I have so much to say, so bear with me as I try to put into words what it is I need to say. Fair warning, I am a rambler! I can talk for days, and boy do I have a bunch to say!! I understand what you are saying about the economy, our countries financial situation etc. I know first hand, living in Michigan, the hardest hit state in this recession. My husband, my 1 year old daughter and I have felt the belt tighten, but it has not been unbearable until recently. I am a stay at home mom, and my husband is the “bread winner” and a full time college student. Recently, his place of employment initiated cutbacks. His hours were slashed from 40 to 45 a week to 3 hours a week. Yes 3. He and all of the employees who were not on salary were cut back to 3 hours a week. Now I am not writing this looking for any kind of sympathy or pity, I am writing this because I have found the diamond in the rough, the glimmer of gold in a pile of ash, I have found the benefit from the situation at hand. I had a moment of absolute clarity which I have never known in all of my days after I read this article. When we look back on this time, the benefits we will see will be that 1.with less money to buy them, we will learn to be less dependent on the material things in life 2. having known hardship, when we previously led “privileged” lives we will learn to open our heart(and our wallets when we can) to those less fortunate. 3. with the cost of gas climbing, and less money to buy it, we see more mass transits, car pooling, people riding bicycles, people buying hybrid cars, and people just walking to their destinations more, which has many positive effects, especially on our planet! Each of these things in turn reduce pollution in one way or another! We rely to much on fossil fuels, and I think that by learning and becoming accustomed to using alternate means of energy we will prosper from the improvement in the health of our nation. 4. by loosing the “extras” in my life I have learned that simplicity feels DIVINE! I mean it. I have not spent a red cent on makeup in months, and my skin is thankful for it! I think skipping makeup all together has worked better than botox ever could, and it is free! 5. Our world is sick. We as the human race are poisoning ourselves with fast food,pre made meals, “genetically altered” livestock,growth hormones in the animals we consume, pesticides and growth chemicals on the plants we eat, and artificial EVERYTHING! But with less money to buy all of these things, we have to spread our grocery money further. To do this I have to make dinner, and make the groceries stretch as much as possible. Which means buying meat from the local butcher,because it costs less,even if it means a 10 minute trip out of my way and skipping the convenience of Wal Mart, and growing my own veggies in pots on my window sill. Which also means I know exactly what is going into my food. If I had more money, I would probably be cruising the aisles of endless pre made meals at Wal-Mart too. Now I know you are saying…Good Lord, does this women ever ramble. And I would say ” I warned you!!!” But all in all, for each hardship there is a benefit somewhere. I see now that with a lot of perseverance this situation can make those of us willing to change into healthier more conscientious people! So the next time you think God is not being so clear in his intent for you, remember, each thing in our life which causes us great fear or uncertainty, happens for a reason and is to teach us something to better our lives. Better may not mean material things, as your friend Michelle found. You never know, maybe not having the money for Mickey D’s on Fridays anymore saved me or my husband from a heart attack that would have kept us from being at our daughter’s wedding someday or seeing her first ballet recital…. So do not look at the negative of your situation, find the positive and nurture it!

This past June my wife and I had our first, a little girl. The following month in July I resigned from an excellent job with great benefits, pay and opportunity. It made no sense to anyone except for me and my wife. For some time God had been putting it on my heart and my wife’s for me to work from home. In all that was going on the Lord chose a time when our life was being “rearranged”. There were a number of circumstances in our lives that made this an illogical situation from the worlds perspective, yet that’s when God called us to make the change.
I’ve been self-employed for the last 6 months starting up and building a business. People have said to me “Oh man! That’s got to be the worst time to start!” My response has always been, it couldn’t have been a better time! One of the blessings is the amount of time I’ve been able to spend with my family throughout the day. A few minutes here over lunch, a new discovery that our daughter makes. Another smile from my wife to encourage me. All great joys each day. That is not to say there haven’t been incredible challenges and extremely hard times.
But the last two months have been a breakthrough to say the least. I have had 3 large projects (about 5 months of work) be put on hold. Money has been non-existent. We have some financial commitments that need to be addressed. We were at a point near bottom. Here’s what changed…
One night in the kitchen with my wife I was near the end of life. I was battling a heavy depression, nothing left, only saw darkness as what was left. My wife hugged me and said “all you can do is cry out to God so do it”. Barely able to mouth the words I cried out “Lord, I am completely done, nothing left, take and have your way.” Immediately a song came on the radio “Praise you in this storm” by Casting Crowns (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU) and that was the start. When you don’t know where to go, what to do, ALL you can do is praise God. Leave the rest be and praise Him.
From then on it has been night and day. With deadlines for payments approaching closer I was sure that the Lord would provide but uncertain when. The Lord answered. We got a call from someone who said “we have some money that we’re tithing on and the Lord laid it on our heart to give it to you” our needs for December were met.
There’s so much more to this story, but it would take a book at this point so let me finish with a few points.
1) Praise God continually in every situation
2) Pray constantly throughout the day
3) Read the bible daily, REALLY read it. Proverbs has 31 chapters, read a chapter for each day of the month. Then repeat it. Read through Matthew. Read Chatper 15 of John.
4) Know that God provides for your every need. But he want’s a continual reliance upon him. He provided food for the Israelites each day, they weren’t able to store it longer. They had to count upon his provision for the next day.
5) Have faith. Make a decision in your heart to trust God and let that decision play forth in every action.
6) Be generous in every situation. We’re called to give back to God His provision for us. He provides what we need and when we willingly give it back to Him he multiples it even more.
7) Finally, wait upon the Lord. Just WAIT, I have a tendency to want to run everywhere. Wait and His timing is perfect (despite what we might tell him!)
In Christ,
- Jonathan

Thank you so much for the encouraging words I am lifted by your love of God and tenacity.
Love you
Terry

Thank you so much for bringing this topic up. I think we could use a support group for these unprecedented economic times which are only going to get worse. Any takers? I am losing strength, its been over a year that either of us have worked (Michigan) and despair is settling in as is rage. I find myself angry at people in particular this one ‘friend” who uses me as a dating counselor, she made fun of this guys teeth!!! Maybe i a m going nuts, anyone who wants to share feelings, fears, etc.. I am game.
ssnbwh

Thank you Marissa and Jonathan for your perspective (Marissa) and testimony (Jonathan). I have renewed hope and faith. Your words have been a blessing to me today.
I pray that everyone who reads this blog continue to rely on and trust God. God bless…

Thank you Therese, Marissa and JD so much for the wonderful stories. These serve me as reminders that all is well, grace abounds, God makes a way where there is no way, and I can be thankful in every situation.
Perhaps our nation is being “slimmed down” from its excess. Everyone around me has a story to tell about hardship or deliverance. I am thankful that I still have enough that I can share and give, even as our family “slims down” during this season.
Again, thank you for your beautiful stories.

Just as I was losing hope I received this in my email and I thank you for giving me the push I needed.

Listen to each others’ answer that was given above.You all have
answered the question of what God wants.He wants us to all go back
to depending on him and letting him be in control again.He brings us
down to make us stronger again.
God Bless You All

Let us have less “stuff”, stop trying to give your kids all these electronic games, etc. Let them read and write and make up games, play with other kids, be a little old fashioned, talk less about money and more about spiritual fulfillment. Go out to dinner less and have a pot luck dinner at a neighbor’s house once a week, even if it’s pizza all together, and forget about wearing or driving the labels making others rich, admire your own brand, be self confident. Do people favors and they you, instead of paying all these services, try to barter. Stop spending money on drinks, and cigarettes. Less really is more. You don’t need as much as you think. Be kind to people and animals. God is watching us all…

These times are making me really assess what I actually need versus what I actually want. Clarity seems to emerge moreso in times of crisis. It is a good lesson for me. I just keep telling myself that God has a plan and He always makes sure that I have what I truly need.

God never said that life would be easy for any of us but that He would walk with us during our lives.I truly believe there is a reason for everything.There is always good that come out of bad.Being a prayer warrior I am always amazed how God puts me in certain places for me to see people I need to pray for and to put them on my prayer list.I will admit even prayer warriors sometimes need prays. Look toward God for answers.

First of all I want to thank GOD for asking me to open this today. Boy does he not show us the way, dispite ourselfs. I was not going to open that.
Second, Thank you for taking the time to share those thoughts. Just look how many people it has reached out to and have benifitted from that letter. Boy, it gave me one those LIGHT BULB MOMENTS. Thank you so much…That is so going to be my goal exactly, to get back to basics. Look at the real picture. GOD WILL PROVIDE,If we let him in to do so. Bless you all for your comments as well. They gave me hope that it will be alright. All of us Christians will be alright.
Bless all us each and every day. Have a blessed, healthy, happy and properous New Year everyone.
Regards,
Hope

I have just recently graduated and I thought that it would all fall into line just like clock work. But I have to always remember all the good things that God has done for me and that makes me happy. I have a beautiful family that I was able to spend alot of time with. I just wish that I could know all the answers but I am waiting on God. With that comes the wisdom and strength that I need to make it through this without worrying too much about tomorrow. One day at a time, that helps me not to be so anxious about the future. Because I could be in my final resting place but I woke up this morning and had everything that I needed. Thank you God.

Worrying about the economy, recession, job loss wont help. We have to keep the hope and ride through the recession.
Leave worries to god, and stay calm and peaceful.
God bless!

I think this is where we as a society get to feel what doing without really means. It’s uncomfortable to be sure, but it will make us more sympathetic to those who truly have nothing. Hopefully this realization will result in people building smaller homes and refurbishing existing properties, as well as implementing community gardens.
This time will make us stronger spiritually, because for some of us, our faith may be all we have right now. When we lost power for a week after Hurricane Ike, it was one of the best times I’ve had with my friends and neighbors. The thing to remember is that “No storm lasts forever”

we must truly walk by faith and not by sight for what is seen is temporary and what is not seen is eternal