The beginning of this week was bad. See my science blog post. As an aside, it's hard for me not to write God into my science blogs and science into my God blog. But well, you all might have to do with a little in both. God is in everything to me and so is science.
But, I got to see God work in the bad. You can't know He's faithful in all circumstances if nothing bad ever happens. Tuesday morning, I was depressed. Life felt dark and I didn't know when it would ever get better. I could see any light at the end of the tunnel. But, I felt as if God was testing my trust in Him. So, I praised Him for the day and thanked Him for His overcoming power in all circumstances, though I didn't see it.
Habbakkuk 3:17-19
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places."
Some of my favorite verses of all time.
Little did I know that just four hours later, everything depressing me would be lifted and I'd feel happier than I did the previous week. It was like God flipped a switch. It was the weirdest thing ever. After lunch, getting to talk to Nina - I knew as soon as I saw her that He had put her in my path - and talking to Dr. Salaita, I couldn't believe all the horribleness was gone and everything was better than great. The sudden shift left me kind of light-headed, exhausted and numb. I learned one thing. God can change your circumstances with the flip of a switch, if He wants to. I think He was teaching me, once again to trust Him. He's using grad school as my training ground in more ways than one.
So, when the controls for my experiments that I'd planned didn't work out and the data was still confusing, I considered. God knows what's going on. I don't have to despair about it.
I can't wait to see what He's going to do this week! Last week, His blessings, little answers to prayer and extra goodness rained down on me like little drops of honey dews. They always do. You just have to look for them. I've been recording them of late.
I've been loving Toby Mac's new album, and have really come to respect him, through his music. It resonates with me during my crazy days. His music is a lot 'rappier' than what I typically listen to and rockier, but it's good stuff. The lyrics I love. I've included three of my favorites below.
Eye On It by Toby Mac I set my eyes to the west, walkin’ away from it all. Reachin’ for what lies ahead, I got my eye on it. I see my sweat hit the ground, I put my foot in the block. This is the race of my life and I can’t wait for this shot‘. Cause I can feel the wind at my back. Chest is pumpin’ like a heart attack. Feet are movin’ and my mind is locked. Pressin’ on with everything I got. I got my eye on it. I got my eye on it. I got my eye on it. Eye on it. Eye on the prize. I got my eye on it. I got my eye on the prize. I got my eye on it. I got my eye on the prize. I got my eye on it. I got my eye on it and I will not quit. I got a new passenger to help me navigate the way. So when my heart hits the floor, I can recalibrate. I feel the deeper callin’ me, all else is fadin’ in the past. So let me run in the race that I know is built to last. ‘Cause I can feel the wind at my back. Chest is pumpin’ like a heart attack. Feet are movin’ and my mind is locked. Pressin’ on I gotta take my shot. Repeat Chorus | Speak Life by Toby Mac Some days, life feels perfect. Other days it just ain't workin. The good, the bad, the right, the wrong And everything in between. Though it's crazy, amazing We can turn a heart with the words we say. Mountains crumble with every syllable. Hope can live or die So speak Life, speak Life. To the deadest darkest night. Speak life, speak Life. When the sun won't shine and you don't know why. Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted; Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, You speak love, you speak... You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh) Some days the tongue gets twisted; Other days my thoughts just fall apart. I do, I don't, I will, I won't, It's like I'm drowning in the deep. Well it's crazy to imagine, Words from our lips as the arms of compassion, Mountains crumble with every syllable. Hope can live or die. So speak Life, speak Life. To the deadest darkest night. Speak life, speak Life. When the sun won't shine and you don't know why. Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted; Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, You speak love, you speak... You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh) Lift your head a little higher, Spread the love like fire, Hope will fall like rain, When you speak life with the words you say. Raise your thoughts a little higher, Use your words to inspire, Joy will fall like rain, When you speak life with the things you say. Lift your head a little higher, Spread the love like fire, Hope will fall like rain, When you speak life with the words you say. So speak Life, speak Life. To the deadest darkest night. Speak life, speak Life. When the sun won't shine and you don't know why. Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted; Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, You speak love, you speak... You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh) Some days life feels perfect. | Thankful for You by Toby Mac Well it started out in the spare bedroom Two turned tables, uh, and a microphone I was flipping over 33's Working on rhymes and melodies Searching for some more of You (and little less of me) It's never been my dream To see my face in magazines It's always been about the music Hoping God would use it To set some people free But I can say without a doubt I never had it figured out Lord you've opened every door I've stepped through yea And I try to keep my head about me I'm thankful for the friends around me I'm thankful for You yeah I'm thankful for You I've been on this road But you come to my shows Sometimes just a few of y'all (other times in troops) But you've been right there to rock with us We come together, we lift Him up Seeing You there inspires me, put Your fire in me It's never been my dream To read my name in magazines It's always been about the music Praying God would use it to set some people free But I can say without a doubt I never had it figured out Lord you've opened every door I've stepped through yea And I try to keep my head about me So thankful for the friends around me I'm thankful for You yeah I'm thankful for You yeah I'm thankful for You It's such a free feeling that You got me feeling We're all good all good all good I love this free feeling that You got me feeling We're all good all good all good Said I love that free feeling That You got me feeling We're all good all good all good Yea They say you become who you hang out with Well I can tell you for sure You made me a better man And I can say without a doubt I never had it figured out Lord you've opened every door I've stepped through yea And I try to keep my head about me So thankful for the friends around me I'm thankful for You yeah I'm thankful for You yeah I'm thankful for You Thankful for You Thankful for You That's it. |