NACR Daily Meditation for Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

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NACR Daily Meditation for Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

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When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through
the rivers, they will not sweep over you.Isaiah 43:2

There are times in the recovery process when it feels like we will drown
in sorrow. The losses, the betrayals, the failures threaten to overwhelm
us. The intensity of the emotional pain frightens us in times like this.
We feel ourselves loosing ground as life swirls around us. 

This text states with great clarity two central truths which are critical
to our survival in times like this. First, God has made a very specific
promise to us. God says "I will be with you." This may not always
be what we want. We may want God to take the floods of life away. We may
want God to build dams upstream in life so that the danger of flood is diminished.
But, God's promise is clear. I will be with you. 

Secondly, this text says very clearly "When you pass through the waters,
they will not sweep over you." God will protect us and see us through.
There are times in recovery when there just doesn't seem to be any way to
make it. Nothing is more painful in these times than to have someone who
stands at a distance express optimism about our recovery in a way that minimizes
the struggle. ["Oh, you're going to be fine. Stop worrying about it."]
Conversely, nothing is more valuable in these times than to have someone
with us who sees the danger clearly but who is able to be hopeful for us
and protect us and see us through 

For your promise to be with me in the floods of life, God,
I give you thanks.
Help me to sense your presence.
For your hopefulness about my recovery, 
I give you thanks.
Help me to share in your hope.
You are Life-Preserver to me, God.
Thank you.
Amen.

Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan 
 
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