Tricia Underwood is a Come With Me study leader. In the blogging world she’s known as Mercy Filled Mama.
Sometimes it’s important to hear from people who are not safely on the other shore, but who are in the waves. Who know exactly how you feel right now.
Tricia shares a perspective shift that she experienced when the clouds were dark. I think she’s courageous and I love what she has to say. ~ Suzie
“Mom, why do I have to go through this?”
I had run out of textbook answers. To be honest, I had asked God the same thing myself.
Why did either of my children have to suffer?
Why have I had to go through the physical pain that has left me a completely different person than I used to be?
Why was my husband battling his own illness?
My family has been hit hard by storms. We are praying and fasting. We’ve done what we know to do. So when my children ask me why, it’s easy for me to want to blame something, someone, anyone. Yet somehow I feel their questions deserve a much deeper answer.
We often try to answer with logic, when faced with the hard “why’s.”
A local pastor, Steven Furtick, once said, “What would happen if we stopped asking, ‘God, WHY am I going through this?’ and started asking, ‘God, WHAT are you preparing me for?’”
This is a perspective shift. The first focuses on me. The second focuses on God and the purpose that may be behind a trial or hardship.
It’s a game changer.
In Luke, Peter took his eyes off Jesus and on to to the elements around him. He started to sink. Kind of like my family and I feel some days. Each time a new wave of sickness or physical injury attacks us, we are tempted to see only the storm.
After hearing Pastor Furtick share this story, I realized I had never once asked the Lord to show me what He was doing behind the scenes.
I’m asking God to show us — to show me — what He’d like to do through these storms.
Let me be used now.
Not later.
We know what it feels like to be in a storm; let us be a comfort to others.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)
I am praying that this will not just be a stormy season, but a season of trust.
This is the scripture we are holding onto. May it hold you close as well.
For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]. 2 Corinthians 4:17 (AMP)
Are you in a storm? We’ve been there. We are there.
How can I pray for you today?
My dear son who left college after his first semester due to suicidal thoughts has been struggling for the pass 18 months. My husband has not come to understand what my son is going through, which has put a strain on our marriage and family. I ask for prayers for God to bring light to what he has in store for us. Our future looks so dark.
Oh Father, shed light into the darkness that this family stands in right now. Offer hope and healing. Lord we lift up this son to you and pray for complete transformation in mind, body, and soul. Wash over him with your love and peace. Send reinforcements to walk him into healing and freedom from this bondage. We lift up this marriage and entire family, because we know that when one walks through darkness, we all walk with them. Give them wisdom and provision, healing, forgiveness, understanding, hope, and a peace that goes beyond anything they’ve known. Wrap them in your loving arms right now, in Jesus name.
Sandy,
My family is going through something similar. I am lifting your family up in prayer right now.
Donna,
We appreciate your prayers! So sorry that your family is in the midst of the storm of mental illness. Have comfort that your family is in our prayers for freedom of the storrm!
Thank you Tricia, I have been going through something very close to my heart and couldn’t understand why, you have have me new light. May God continue to bless you and You help others.
Please keep me and my family in your prayers. I have a lost son and daughter-in-law.
Lord, we lift Linda and her family into your hands today. We pray that you would guide your lost children back into a place of surrender. Remind Linda to look up! Assure her that you are near, and you are in control. Cover her in your perfect peace today.
Linda, I’m so thankful that God is using our story (HIS story) to help encourage you!! For that, it is worth it all!! I am praying for you and your lost family members, as well as the storm you’re in, dear sister! ❤️🙏
Please pray for both of my sons. My older has kicked his brother out due to some bad choices he was making. I am stuck in the middle and do not know what to do. The youngest is extremely upset and stating he is now homeless. This just happened last night. He can live with us but he will have rules to abide by. Asking for guidance and clarity in this situation and for the boys to be able to get through this and heal and be loving brothers once again. Thank you.
Father, I pray that you would wrap Connie in your peace right now. Mend this broken relationship between her sons. Bring them back into a place of repentance and surrender, forgiveness and healing. Give each one the wisdom and provision needed in this very moment. In Jesus name.
Lord, you promise wisdom if we ask for it so here we are with open hands and an open heart, asking for buckets of wisdom. All that you have. All that you offer. Pour it out over this mama’s heart. If you are growing up her younger son, then show her how to step back. If you are teaching these young men to work through conflict, then give her peace as they fumble their way through it. Cover her today, Lord, with so much joy that it makes no sense in relation to her circumstances. That’s what you do, Lord! We praise you for it.
Thank you for sharing your heart and your struggles. Thank you for that timely word from Pastor Steven Furtick. Keeping our eyes on the Lord is so important when life struggles try to drag us down. Hard to do but very important.
Charlotte, It is good for us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Blessings Diana
“Let me be used now. Not later.” YES, Lord! Thank you for sharing your heart, Tricia… I’m reading in tears. May I keep my focus on the right perspective!
Thank you for this post. I have been asking the Lord to change my perspective, my heart and to use the many storms that my family has been going through to grow my faith and bring me closer to Him. My husband and I also have been struggling with chronic illnesses that lead to other health issues. The main concern in our family right now though is our 22 year old son who has been dealing with a mental illness for the last eight months. None of the treatments or medications have worked and we have struggled to obtain a helpful Psychiatrist. He is in an angry, agitated, low right now and is having continual suicidal thoughts. For the first time since this illness reared it’s ugly head, he has pulled away from his father and I and is angry towards us. He refuses to seek anymore help, because the help he has received has not worked. He had to move home a few month’s ago, so we are able to monitor him, but we are exhausted and because he is an adult our hands are tied as far as his medical care goes. He is also angry at God for not answering his many months of prayers for peace and healing. I ask that you all would please join us in praying for him.
Tricia, you have my heart, I am so proud of you. Blessings my friend. I love you. Diana
My sweet cousin- you are such an encouragement to me and so many others. Thank you for taking the time to write, share and pray for so many- especially during your storm. Not only are you trying to keep your focus on God, but in doing so, you are focusing on His people just has He has commanded. You are a blessing. May He bless you during this storm and grow you in ways previously unimaginable. I love you -and thank the Lord for you!!
We drop our youngest off at college this weekend. Our older son just graduated college and is working but still searching for a better job in his field. We are thankful that his has something but are discouraged that some amazing job opportunities haven’t worked out.
I Have to ASK..Steve Furtick??.Isn’t he that person from Elevated church that has that 16,000. Square foot home???.and…sorry I see his name and that is when I stopped….so so sad..😔😔
I never asked God what He was doing; preparing me/us for either. I do know it is not too late to ask Him now. Thx so much for sharing your insight.