I am so surprised by the simple fact that as I am getting older I am growing wiser. That whole sentence kind of made me chuckle out loud.  I remember growing up and so many times hearing I’ve been there just listen to me.  Or one day you will wish you had listened to me.  I can’t recall all of them but I remember my Grandma, my mamaw, my mom and my aunts always reminding me that they knew things that I just didn’t understand.

This journey we call life isn’t always easy. Over a year ago my husband was laid off from his job of 8 years.  It was a good job, close to home, good money, and he enjoyed it overall.  We had no alternative.  It was such a tough time for us.  We had just purchased a larger house and had not put ours on the market yet.  I wasn’t even sure how we would eat or pay a bill.  It was beyond difficult.  I was so scared.  Each day had a new challenge, a challenge that I wasn’t sure how we would overcome.  What I quickly learned is it had nothing to do with us but all to do with Jesus and his plans.

I thought this time would never end and there are times that right now I wonder will it ever get better and easier. In some ways, it has, Jon now has a job.  We’ve put all that in our past and daily do our best to put a positive foot forward.  We are trusting that God’s plan is bigger and He had a reason for this.  He did.  One of the biggest lessons we learned is that God is faithful.  He is faithful in EVERYTHING.  He is a peace giving God.  During times when I wasn’t sure of the next minute he gave me a peace that only He can give.  He loved me when I was unlovable, short tempered, and easily frustrated. He carried our marriage when so many people told us just throw in the towel.  He provided more than enough for our kids, our bellies and just our family.

Today as I sit here there are so many struggling. Struggling with Christmas, struggling with their marriage, struggling financially and the list goes on and on.  Life isn’t easy but let me say with Jesus it is so much better!  We find peace in chaos.  We find love when we are unlovable.  We find joy instead of stress, depression, and anxiety.  I can’t type all of this as true if I hadn’t experienced it first-hand.  I am sure I am getting the eye roll.  I was you.  I eye rolled and thought well Jesus isn’t there for me like He is for others.  I can tell you I was wrong.  Dead wrong.  My heart wasn’t in the right place. I was serving myself not Jesus.