God Said 'No' For A Reason

And God Said "No"

I asked God to take away my pride.
And God said "No".
He said it was not for him to take away,
but for me to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
And God said "No".
He said his spirit was whole,
his body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
And God said "No".
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations.
It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
And God said "No".
He said he gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain.
And God said "No".
He said suffering draws you apart
from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
And God said "No".
He said I must grow on my own.
But he will prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

And God said "No".
He said I will give you life, that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others,
as much as he loves me.
And God said,
Ah, finally you have the idea.

~ Claudia Weisz ~

A good friend used the poem above to encourage me....I hope sharing this will bless you as much as it blessed me. Read it and then re-read it, applying your own situations, areas that you've asked God to help you in. Meditate on what God has given you the ability to change and the tools He's given you to conquer. Then pray this prayer....

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen

Reinhold Niebuhr, The Serenity Prayer

Stay encouraged, Fam!

~~Be Blessed~~