"Be aware that when you go to Jesus for help, you will both give to and get from him far more than you bargained for.  Be patient, because the deal often doesn't work out the way you expected."


First of all, I don't know if I'll get over the fact that Jesus (who has been given all authority in heaven and earth Matt. 28:18), has made himself available to me.  It's an overwhelming thought that he wants to help me.  The more that I walk with God, the more I realize how much I need Him.  It has been true in my life that I've received far more than I bargained for.  This includes blessings as well as challenges.  One of the biggest challenges for me was to realize that God, at times, needs to use pain to teach us.  While I might have been hurt by past situations and was clueless as to why God allowed them, I now look back with a new appreciation for those challenges.  It is when life has been challenging that I've been forced to go to my knees to pray.  It is when I've been able to learn the most about myself. In Romans 8:28 it says, "God uses all things for the good of those who love him."  Honestly, I can say that it has been the worst times that have drawn me closest to God.  Because of his unlimited grace, support and help, I am now grateful for some of the things I've had to deal with.