Here am I, Send Me

....oh hey.... It's been a while.  I traveled during the summer and really got out of my blogging groove.  So for those few that actually read this thing, I apologize.  And trust me, I have strongly considered just not blogging anymore (at least not on a regular basis), but I've been really inspired lately, especially after attending a women's conference this weekend, but I can't help but type out some of my thoughts.

It has also been hard to blog for the past 3 months because, well, I have found myself drowning a little bit in the realities of life.  Mainly in the reality that I am a single parent most of the time due to my husband's work schedule on top of just all of the hardships that motherhood brings in the first place.  I don't tell you this to get pity or for you to think "oh poor Grace," but I tell you because I believe in real talk in an effort to get through this life together, with all of you.

A few things uplifted me within the past few days and I have found a renewed strength.  I taught Sunday school this past Sunday and my topic was Isaiah chapters 1-6.  Yikes right?  But in chapter 6, it talks about the call of Isaiah.  The Lord comes to him and asks him to do some really hard things and what is his response? "Here am I, send me" Don't those words sound familiar? They are the same words that Christ said when asked to come and atone for all of our sins and doing something really really hard.

So sometimes I think we don't look at our trials this way.  We don't look at hard things we are faced with as callings, per se.  But aren't they? God has a plan for each and every one of us.  And guess what? That plan includes extreme hardships! And God knew ahead of time that we would be going through these things.  But he also knew that we could get through them- which is why, in a sense, he has called us to them.  So I can sit here and wallow in self pity and ask "why me, God?" or I can say, "Here am I, send me."  Let me face these challenges that you yourself prepared me for, God.  Give me the strength that only you can give me.  I trust you and I have faith that I can do all things with that strength.

I often lose my eternal perspective, especially in the face of a long enduring trial that doesn't seem to have an end in sight.  And I need constant reminders that God is by my side and will help me through it.  But he is also perfectly patient and 100% willing to send all of the reminders that I need, especially if I am willing to ask for them.  I want to follow God's plan for me.  I want to face everything he has in store for me with a "Here am I, send me" attitude.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. - Philippians 4:13