Every Good and Perfect Gift

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

I'm sure if you are a churchgoer, or a bible reader, you have heard this verse before. Have you really thought about it though? We go through life and experience heartache, hardships, financial stress, family problems, illness, depression and we focus on it. I know I focus on it more than I should, the bad things that have happened to me and my family. Why is there so much focus on the bad and not more on the good? If every good and perfect gift is from above, that means every good thing in our lives is from above. I was reminded of this by a very special person that God has put in my life recently. God has used them to remind me that He does hear me when I call out to Him. And that the good in my life is from Him, not from anyone or anywhere else.

What good things do you have in your life? Instead of focusing on the bad, try and focus on the good. From my experience, it is more natural to focus on the bad, and it takes effort to focus on the good, but when I do, the bad isn't as bad as it first seemed.

Fear

As we grow we encounter many fears. When we are young it may be the fear of the dark, or scary dreams. When we get older it becomes the fear of making friends, or rejection. Even older still is the fear of what to do with our lives. Fear is something that surrounds us. Fear of losing those you love. This is a fear that is very real for me. Fear of what if the cancer comes back. Fear of watching my children in pain. Fear of losing my best friend and growing old alone.

I read an article/blog recently about how we hear from those around us, offering support, that God will not give us more than we can handle. According to that blogs author, this statement is completely and utterly false. The way the author worded it was how I've been thinking for a long time now. We are constantly getting more than we can handle. If we never got more than we could handle why would we need God.

I live in fear most days, however, I have my Savior to help take those fears and replace them with hope, an eternal hope. We will lose loved ones; disease will take them away from us. Bad, horrible things will happen. But, we have the eternal hope that we are never alone and that once this life on earth is done, we will live forever in heaven with our Savior. Living in constant fear is not truly living. It is hard looking past it, but totally worth it.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and no not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.