Friday, September 27, 2013

this is hard.

hello there! things have been silent here for quite some time now. mainly because we've been busy trying to keep our heads on straight. this season of life in south carolina has been hard. add becoming parents to the mix and it's been really hard.

it's hard to dwell in peace when your shortcomings are ever present.

to deeply receive God's grace just to stand up and get knocked back down by your flesh.

to have the dreams God has given you burn holes through your chest but know their time hasn't come yet.

to feel weighed down by your circumstances but remember they're not a valid reason for your lack of joy and you could rise above them if you were stronger. better.

to be so SO tired.

to weep and pray for this season in the desert to be over and the very next day your husband has a wreck at work driving the company truck and totals a woman's fancy car. true story. no one was hurt.

it's been oddly hard. back to back hard. hard overlapping hard.

these are situations that leave us with no response but God I need you.

and it would be foolish not to recognize that He is forging something deep within our little family of 3. amen.

so just in case you were wondering - YOU CAN BE NEAR TO JESUS AND LOSING YOUR STUFF AT THE SAME TIME.

it's seasons like this that have me convinced, glory to glory doesn't quite look like we think it does.

glory to glory can be messy. glory to glory can hurt.

glory to glory can be climbing the christian ladder just to get knocked off and have to start back at square one.

blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. hallelujah.

also, did i mention that parenting is really really hard? don't ever think you're the only one down in the trenches.


7 comments:

  1. Praying. Doing this with you but from miles away. We love you guys!

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  2. good to know I'm not alone in this... and thus, neither are you! I can relate to back to back, overlapping hard... pressing in with you to experience the presence of Jesus, right here, right now.

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  3. I am in the same boat girl! Just posted about how parenting is hard! I love how you described "glory to glory". So true.

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  4. I needed this. It's so easy to become self-condemning. Thanks.

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  5. thank you ladies so SO much. your words are dear.

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  6. Noelle, My sweet, beautiful daughter-in-law. I check your blog and facebook each day for updates and current photos of you, Hazel, and Ryan. I must tell you this month's post has touched me deeply. First, because I find it almost unbearable to think you, or any member of my family is struggling. Yet, this post is bitter sweet for me. I am so convinced now more than ever that you are destined to do great things for our Lord and Savior. Take heart and be encouraged that in the difficult times of our lives God builds character, grace, and a strengthens us beyond our understanding. I praise Him for the wisdom, maturity, and compassion He has given you. I thank Him for the difficult times He has challenged you with, to prove Himself, His love, and faithfulness. I worship Him for the woman you are and the woman He is making you. I love you my beautiful daughter.

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  7. Noelle, I check your blog often. I miss you dearly. Yes, I love my brother Ryan and adore Hazel, but I am so thankful for you. Unfortunately, we do not get a chance to talk very often, but I just wanted to say that I care about you a lot. I look up to you and admire you. Now that we have little Gideon I know how hard it is. He is everything to me and imagining a life without him is impossible...but that does not mean it is easy. It is SO HARD. It has taken me two months to come to grips with the fact that I am not strong on my own - I am humbled because I NEED SO MUCH HELP. It's hard when there doesn't seem to be any tangible help nearby...and oh how I wish we were closer! Christmastime is becoming one of my favorite times of year simply because three of the most special people in the world come to town - I CANNOT WAIT! Sending love from the West Coast... -Kelsey

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