Being Turtle

"I've got a river of life flowing out of me... spring up oh Well and make me whole."

       I'm a very goal oriented person so when I feel like I'm at a stand still in my Christian walk I feel like I should do something to change it up a little to get past the plateau. That works in fitness why shouldn't it work here, right? 

      For the past year our church hasn't really been able to move past some issues that we are having and it's caused a lot of hurt, abandonment, accusations, and many other painful situations. I keep thinking we just have to keep going to see God's reasons for all this pain, but honestly I'm starting to waver. It feels as though we are all so caught up in the 'noise' that we can't put the proper attention into the ministries that are right in front of us. When I think of the year to come I'm feeling very discouraged. I can't stand to think that maybe we'll be in the exact same spot next year and have another year thrown away for nothing. I know God is moving, but I barely can see it because it looks different then how it ever has before. 

      I am reading Proverbs 18 today and finding comfort. 

18:10 The name of the Lord ³²  is like ³³  a strong tower; ³⁴ the righteous person runs ³⁵  to it and is set safely on high. ³⁶

 18:11 The wealth ³⁷  of a rich person is like ³⁸  a strong city, ³⁹ 

and it is like a high wall in his imagination. ⁴⁰ 

18:12 Before destruction the heart ⁴¹  of a person is proud,

but humility comes ⁴²  before honor. ⁴³ 

18:13 The one who gives an answer ⁴⁴  before he listens ⁴⁵  –

that is his folly and his shame. ⁴⁶ 

18:14 A person’s spirit ⁴⁷  sustains him through sickness –

but who can bear ⁴⁸  a crushed spirit? ⁴⁹ 

18:15 The discerning person ⁵⁰  acquires knowledge,

and the wise person ⁵¹  seeks ⁵²  knowledge.

I do so much think that all of this trouble is going to grow me in a way that I wouldn't have grown otherwise.      

Slow and steady... Slow and steady...