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Life Lessons

Writer's picture: Cheryl  Gerou Cheryl Gerou



What I’m writing:


I’m still plugging away on my next novella. It’s taken many twists and turns, with me even considering making it a novel to finish out the series. But I’ve since decided against that. My characters are showing me how in all of life we need to lean on the Lord, listen to His still small voice, and learn from the Truths of His Word. It is in those Truths we find everything we need… comfort, hope, peace, belonging, mercy, compassion, and unfailing love.


Does your heart hunger for any of those things? I know mine does. And reality is the hunger increases as I look at the world, the way sin runs rampant, as Satan has his way. But joy fills my heart when I take time to linger on the truth that the Lord is sovereign, and He has told us the end of the story in His Word in the book of Revelation. Jesus is victorious. So, take heart, my friend, the end of the story means the end of evil. God’s Word is Truth, we only need to rest in Him.


One other thing, I would greatly appreciate your prayers. Please ask that the Lord will show me the Truths He desires my book to illuminate, so your hearts may be touched with hope. (Thank you so much.)



What the Lord is teaching me:


Does your heart feel drained at times? I mean life just doesn’t seem to be going as hoped or planned and you feel like giving up? Sometimes when life is filled with struggles, we grow weary. And that is where I’ve been recently. So, what do you do when you’re in that place? Do you choose gratitude or grumbling? Do your eyes and thoughts settle on all the things going wrong? Or do you search for reasons to be thankful? I’ve been more of the grumbler. 


As I’ve been working on my goals for next year and really planning out how I will move forward on each one, month by month, week by week, and even day by day, I am encouraged. You see, I don’t have to stay in this same place, I can choose to change. I can pray for the Lord to transform my heart, and He will take joy in doing so.


So, gratitude over grumbling is a goal. Grumbling comes naturally. Gratitude takes intention. For me this will mean keeping a joy journal. Looking for things in my day that bring me joy, simple joys, like watching the woodpecker peck at the deck my husband is building or listening to the chirpy conversations of the birds when I’m outside. It means taking notice of the sweet things my husband does to help me or encourage me. And it means taking note, as I read God’s Word, of the things I often miss telling Him thank you for.


I have started to study holiness and am trying to integrate some habits of holiness in my life. One of the articles I read suggested looking for God’s hand in everything that happens. The first step in doing so is to make a list of the difficulties and discomforts in life, things I’m only tolerating or just putting up with. Things that are weighing heavy on me. So, in a short amount of time, I had a pretty long list written down. I told the Lord that all of these were weighing heavy on me, crushing me like a pile of bricks. The next step was to remind myself that each of these are in the Lord’s hands. And while considering that, I asked Him to help me see more of Him in these areas. I enjoyed doing that, but what happened the next day knocked my socks off.


As I was planning my soul tending for the day, I got stuck on the Remember portion (I explained more about this in my last post.). I wasn't sure what I wanted to focus on, so I did some searching and was led to Deuteronomy 8:2. Here is that verse in the Amplified Version: "And you shall remember [always] all the ways which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart (mind), whether you would keep His commandments."


What an amazing verse. The Lord had specific reasons for allowing the Israelites to wander in the wilderness for forty years. My interest was piqued. I decided to read the rest of Deuteronomy 8. Funny thing is, it's not like the story isn't familiar, because it is, but the Lord knew the exact lesson I needed to learn from that chapter, at that moment.


So, I took out a little notebook and wrote down all of the reasons the Lord allowed what He had in the lives of the Israelites for those years. I was surprised to find so many, and none of them were out of spite or to cause them harm. They all were to help them learn to understand and know Him, His character, and His attributes more.


The Lord helped me see that these reasons aren't only for the Israelites but they're for me as well (and for you too). They pave the path to finding both joy and gratitude in my troubles. They helped me recognize the importance of trusting Him with each of life's obstacles, because I can be sure He will bring me through with new understanding, as He leads me in His wisdom. They are His way of teaching me life lessons about the depth of His love for me. (You may want to take out your Bible right now and read Deuteronomy chapter eight.)


It's hard to see things in that light. It’s hard to believe anything good can come from the things we are currently despairing of. But it is absolutely true. I know this from experience, yet spiritual amnesia gets the best of me, and I lose sight of this truth. God is good and faithful, and we can trust Him.


He knows the troubles and difficulties we face, the worries and pain we live with, and He has strength to bring each of us through. I want to share a verse of prayer from Isaiah 33:2 AMP. It is a prayer we can take and make our own.


O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm of Your servants every morning [that is, their strength and their defense], Our salvation also in the time of trouble.




What I’m reading:


I am currently reading Andrew Murray’s book, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness. It is a book spoken of in Dr. Helen Roseveare’s book, Living Fellowship: Willing to be the Third Sid of the Triangle. I recently finished reading Living Fellowship. It was an amazing book that I highly recommend. And Murray’s book on holiness is a perfect companion. He states similar truths and shares so many important facets of humility as well as ways we can grow in it. In the chapter I read most recently, he shared about the incredible importance of knowing who Christ is and how He demonstrated humility at every turn in His life. If you struggle with pride, and we all do, I think reading this book will be helpful in redirecting your thoughts. I know it has been for me, and I’ve only read a few chapters.

May your hearts be filled with gratitude because of the hope we have in Christ.


Note: You can find out more about the story of the horrendous event in one woman's life that touched my heart. I vaguely mentioned it in my newsletter, but I think it will be a blessing to you. The story is on this website, be sure to read her blog Stray Thoughts for November 2, 2024. The information about the woman is toward the end of the post. Here's the link: https://barbaraleeharper.com

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© 2023 Cheryl Gerou.

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