Oh how He Teaches

It's been a while. Many significant things have happened since I last wrote, and I guess there were so many that I forgot to write them down. Or rather, to type them :) It seems like each time I decide to record something important in writing, all the other things going on in my head want to come out at the same time. You know how they say that you should learn from your mistakes, and that you never stop learning? Boy is that right. At least the second part. I try to learn from my mistakes but after a while, I find myself asking, "Didn't I just get over learning this the hard way? Why am I facing this problem again?" Without fail, these challenges to my maturity, self-discipline, and or patience are much less complicated than I let them become in my mind. I freak out and stress about things that end up being simple. Every time! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO LEARN THIS?!! Alright, now that I got my confusion written down, it's time to reflect and remind myself of how God sees it. That's one great thing about Him - He never lets me stay in my downer thoughts for long. I'll go to say something depressing or complain about how bad I feel, and He'll remind me of something that gives me hope. I don't want to make other people feel down by writing those things. I've been given GRACE, so everything I put out there should reflect that. In this case, I'm reminded that God knows my better than I know myself. He knows what I need to know, and how much I will have to learn it before I actually GET IT. He does not do it to hurt me or annoy me. He does it because He loves me and want me to grow. He teaches me out of love. And then He tests me out of the same love. It doesn't feel like love, for sure. But He's always there to hold me when I'm crying...even while He's pointing out the things that need to change in me. He is direct and honest, willing to intrude upon my "personal" space. And He is gentle and loving at the same time. HE IS THE PERFECT FRIEND.