It's More Than Practicing A Pause

One thing that is kind-of cool about blogging frequently is being able to look back over the days or a whole month or more and see where God has taken you.  You never know what a day will hold when you wake up, but He does. Truly, the only way to ready yourself for a day is to connect with Him.  I don't always do that very well....like yesterday....I need to learn from days like that.

Yesterday was an UHGG! DAY at work...not because I was bored or hate my job, but because there were a lot of things beyond my control happening for one of the students I have been working with.  She is having a lot of difficulty obtaining her VISA to come to the United States for school and I am just totally frustrated for her as deadlines are approaching this week and her paperwork is messed up and stuck in red tape between our government agencies and the embassy in her country....yuck!  I am trying to remain encouraging for her emotionally, but refraining from over-promising anything that may not be able to transpire at this late hour....stuck in that weird place....and I can't imagine how disappointed she is feeling on the other side of the world.   Well, I can imagine...Kassi may have gotten some of her curiously strong imagination from me, but I always wonder if what I imagine is the reality of it, you know.  I've made some calls and a bunch of emails on her behalf because I know she was trying to stay up all night where she lives just to be awake in case something important came through to remove this roadblock.  My morning yesterday was saturated in frustration and anxiety then a friend and co-worker stopped by after she returned from her lunch break and said, "I prayed for your student and her VISA issues at lunch today."  That is so humbling.....WOW, THANK YOU FOR CARING and TAKING THIS PROBLEM TO THE RIGHT PLACE.  After she left my doorway, I put my "boiling stew" aside to pray as well.  I am praying that these issues with her paperwork will be resolved so she can stay on track with her plans for school....and I will do everything in my power to help, but ultimately it is GOD who controls this situation, right?.....Even government issues are in His hands....nothing is NOT known or understood by HIM.

Some people say to practice THE PAUSE. I agree that we should pause before we speak or react to things we encounter...taming the tongue and holding thoughts captive....both solid, Biblical reasons for a pause, but OH, how much greater it is to add to that... the practice of prayer.  

Connecting and being in the presence of the ONE who KNOWS ALL and CHANGES THINGS (myself, included) is a saturation of peace.