Comments on: An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent.

By: Marlo

Marlo — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:50:39 +0000

I love what others have said here.
First, I realized we don’t have that Horton book, though we do have the movie. So thank you for reminding me to get that book.
Second…for me a lot of it is a battle of my mind. Phil. 4:8 starts with “think on what is true” and often that’s where I go wrong. I don’t want to think on the real truths of God’s faithfulness…I want to look at the disappointment or the what if’s…and I lose track. But God does prove His love time and again and I’m so thankful He is a God of redemption, as you said. And what you wrote about actually living it out…that is so true. Being the hands and feet is incredibly difficult (impossible without His grace) but man. So humbling and worth it.

By: emily

emily — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:28:44 +0000

I’m a little late to this conversation, I know. But I think my feelings are my biggest challenge. Mostly, when I feel worried or hurt or rejected, those are the hardest times for me to not only remember truth, but to then believe that it is actually truth. Feeling like I suck sometimes can get me stuck. But I am inspired as I remember the ways the Lord has been faithful in the past. And giving myself time to let the feelings settle.

I love what your mom shared.

And I hate to admit this to you, but I’ve never read that Dr. Seuss book.

By: GFMorris.com » links for 2009-06-16

GFMorris.com » links for 2009-06-16 — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:32:08 +0000

[...] Through a Glass, Darkly » An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent. (tags: gfmorris_comment) [...]

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:40:19 +0000

Thank you, Kari’s mom. :hug:

[I'm a chronically depressed man in the throes of a depressive episode and have little of value to add to the conversation.]

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:42:51 +0000

First of all, let me say that I am extremely proud of you, Kari. You are a beautiful, intelligent young woman of character and faith. You are open and honest about your struggles, and you are constantly evaluating your life and trying to improve those things which fall short of what you want to be. That is admirable.

You asked some questions at the end of your post, and for me, having answers at this time in my life has proven to be challenging. However, I do think that I have gained some valuable insight not only over the years, but especially over the past three or so years. Losing your dad was extremely difficult and left me in a crisis of faith – lonely, confused, distraught. Then the ensuing “infamous” year of 2007 brought what seemed to me everything imaginable that could hit me. During that year on top of all the things that go with the “normal” (?) grieving process, I mostly felt dead inside and almost numb to the fact that all these things were happening to me. It was like, “Well, I am already down, so one more blow won’t make much difference.”

Having gone through all of that has given me a different perspective that I didn’t have before. It is way too complicated for me to elaborate on here, but, in a nutshell, I feel now that I have already experienced and am surviving (notice the present progressive) what may be the most difficult experience of my life. Anything else that life might throw at me is small stuff compared to that, and whatever it is, I will get through that too. Even though I have at times been angry with God, I haven’t felt his presence as strongly with me as I did before, and I don’t understand why all this had to happen, I cannot deny how he has taken care of me, provided for me, and blessed me. Things definitely could have been a lot worse. I feel much like Paul describes in II Cor. 4:8-9: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.”

So whether it is a taking a financial hit, having medical problems, something as small as an event not going like I would like, or as large as losing a loved one, I know that I can still go on. Seeing how I have survived so far helps me view any present situation through eyes that recognize how much God really does love me and takes care of me, even though it may not seem like it right at the moment. I am comforted by the words in Lamentations 3:22-24, and have found them to be tried and true: “The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.” I am still on the journey, and have a lot to learn, but I am thankful for the bits of understanding I have gained along the way.

By: alisa beth

alisa beth — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:43:49 +0000

“A thing resounds when it rings true…”

Your thoughts are so familiar, but you articulate them so much better than I ever could!

Right at the beginning of your post, this gripped me: “And I am not sure that I am very faithful, for at the first sign of trouble, I resign myself to second-class citizenship, sure that God is saving his best blessings for others.” So, not only does life give us a beating sometimes – when our job is on the line, someone close is sick, or rejection strikes again – WE do a pretty good job of beating ourselves, too.

Music helps me persevere – the kind of music that is full of the gospel, the kind of music that is full of grace and reminds me of hope. The kind of music that, no matter the beating, leaves you standing solid and assured of God’s goodness and mercy – even as “we ache for what is lost” and “as we wait for the Holy God.”

The following live in my Top 25 played songs on/in iTunes/my iPod:

High Noon
Hosanna
Far Country
Canaan Bound
Wings of the Morning
Ten Thousand Angels (though a recent addition)

Praise God for Andrew Peterson & friends.

By: CJ

CJ — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:28:05 +0000

I have a notebook where I have written down some of the ways I’ve seen God’s faithfulness in the past, but being reminded of his faithfulness through the people in my life is key. I need the gospel to be preached to me, daily.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:22:09 +0000

for me, the knowledge of how faithful God has been, (not just to me, but to all those “great witnesses” that have come before me) and will continue to be, despite what trial may come, is definitely my cause for perseverance. though, many times, my “faithfulness” is about an convincing as a 5 year old in a temper tantrum…not so much the “patient inaction” as you so eloquently said. i loved this post, because of how raw and real it is. glad you asked us a question…very bold you are these days of late!!