{"id":895,"date":"2013-05-23T14:31:31","date_gmt":"2013-05-23T14:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kandynolesstevens.com\/?p=895"},"modified":"2013-05-23T14:31:31","modified_gmt":"2013-05-23T14:31:31","slug":"seeing-clearly-after-the-fog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/?p=895","title":{"rendered":"Seeing clearly after the fog"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"fog\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Although he brings sorrow, he also has mercy and great love. Lamentations 3:32<\/em><\/h2>\n

This morning I started my day as usual with devotions.\u00a0 Technology was not my friend as my Bible app would not open.\u00a0 Not to be deterred, I grabbed my Devotional Bible \u2013 edited by Max Lucado \u2013 from my nightstand.\u00a0 As I was heading to Ezekiel, my trusty book fell open to Lamentations.\u00a0 Not just anywhere in Lamentations – nope –\u00a0at a page that I had dog-eared and worn.\u00a0 The highlighted words were a mirror reflection of where I was at last week \u2013 in a fog.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, I had friends and family members praying for me and guiding me through what was quite possibly the hardest day of my life since the bus crash.\u00a0 I did make it through, and miraculously with God\u2019s help the fog lifted almost immediately.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe in coincidences.\u00a0 I needed that reminder this morning that God was not absent last week, nor was He when my son died.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a prayer vigil person.\u00a0 If I cannot sleep, it is usually because God has someone in mind that I should be praying for.\u00a0 Last night was no different.\u00a0 I have several friends, their kids, and communities facing a fog of their own.\u00a0 So, I prayed . . .<\/p>\n

While I personally cannot do much other than that to help ease the storm for each of them right now, I can remind them that there is one who can lift the fog.\u00a0 My life story is a testament to that fact. Cling to him and He will guide you to new found peace.<\/p>\n

The devotional below is from \u201cNo Wonder They Call Him the Savior\u201d by Max Lucado.<\/p>\n

The fog of the broken heart.<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a dark fog that slyly imprisons the soul and refuses easy escape.\u00a0 It\u2019s a silent mist that eclipses the sun and beckons the darkness.\u00a0 It\u2019s a heavy cloud that honors no hour and respects no person. Depression, discouragement, disappointment, doubt . . . all are companions of this dreaded presence.<\/em><\/p>\n

The fog the broken heart disorients our life.\u00a0 It makes it hard to see the road.\u00a0 Dim your lights.\u00a0 Wipe off the windshield.\u00a0 Slow down.\u00a0 Do what you wish, nothing helps.\u00a0 When this fog encircles us, our vision is blocked and tomorrow is a forever away.\u00a0 When this billowy blackness envelops, the most earnest words of help and hope are but vacant phrases.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you have ever been betrayed by a friend, you know what I mean. If you have ever been dumped by a spouse or abandoned by a parent, you have seen this fog.\u00a0 If you have ever placed a spade of dirt on a loved one\u2019s casket or kept vigil at a dear one\u2019s beside, you, too, recognize this cloud.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you have been in this fog, or are in it now, you can be sure of one thing \u2013 you are not alone.\u00a0 Even the saltiest of sea captains have their bearings because of the appearance of this unwanted cloud. \u00a0. .<\/em><\/p>\n

Think back over the last two or three months.\u00a0 How many broken hearts did you encounter? How many wounded spirits did you witness? How many stories of tragedy did you read about? . . .<\/em><\/p>\n

The list goes on and on, doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Foggy tragedies. How they blind our vision and destroy our dreams.\u00a0 Forget any great hopes of reaching the world.\u00a0 Forget any plans of changing society. Forget any aspirations of moving mountains. Forget all that. Just help me make it through the night!<\/em><\/p>\n

The suffering of the broken heart . . .<\/em><\/p>\n

Seeing God . . .does wonders for our own suffering.\u00a0 God was never more human than at this hour.\u00a0 God was never nearer to us than when he hurt.\u00a0 The Incarnation was never so fulfilled as in the garden.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As a result, time spent in the fog of pain could be the God\u2019s greatest gift.\u00a0 It could be the hour that we finally see our Maker . . . Maybe in our suffering we can see God like never before.<\/em><\/p>\n

The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention.\u00a0 It may the closest you ever get to God.\u00a0 Watch closely.\u00a0 It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I know the story behind this song, but sometimes I believe that it was written just for me.\u00a0 I think music is often a reflection of my soul and story.<\/p>\n