Image by Gerd Altman Courtesy of Pixabay.
I have a friend who went through a pretty rough decade. She lost a son by suicide, her husband after twenty-five years and her godly father passed. I remember calling her when her father was failing and I asked her how she was doing. She said she was hanging on. Then she said two words that have stuck with me…this 24. She explained to me that she only had to live this 24 hours. She held on to her faith through everything she was going through one day at a time. When she was deep in the valleys, she held on to God’s hand moment by moment, hour by hour and day by day.
I took her advice to heart. When I walked through valleys, I reminded myself of her words…this 24. I then tried to push back the angst about tomorrow and the regrets of the past and focus on the one day I had been given. Jesus said it best when he said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34
My friend continued to trust God, went back to school and became a Christian Counselor. She was able to help hundreds of people, either directly or indirectly, by sharing what she had learned in college and in her walk with The Father. Someone who has gone through the fire and come out the other side is a living testimony to the power and grace of God. Her experience has proved invaluable not only to me but to all the other people she has shared her wisdom with.
You may never get to know her or talk to her. That is why I am sharing one of the nuggets of wisdom she gave me about twenty years ago. If you’re going through a valley, I hope it speaks to you. Remember, hang on to the Father’s hand…you only have to live this 24!
Beautiful Val! This is all we have. This 24. God only measured the graces out for each day as you said. Love it. Thanks for imparting hope.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NABRE)
22 The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted,
his compassion is not spent;
23 They are renewed each morning—
great is your faithfulness!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Love the input and the verses! Thank you so much for sharing them with us! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was beautifully written and very inspiring! Loved the Bible verse you applied to This 24! So good to know God’s got this, and none of it is ours to worry about! Never was and never will be when we leave it in our loving Savior’s hands! Thank you for the reminder! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much for adding to the conversation and giving us your thoughts on the subject! Blessings to you!
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing. One day at a time is truly how you have to tackle life. Some decades it doesn’t just rain, it pours. But God is still good. In fact, I’ve found out how good He truly is through the toughest days. There’s a song that always gets me crying: “Fighting for Me” by Riley Clemmons. It’s true. Jesus is always fighting for us.
LikeLiked by 3 people
He is absolutely! Thank you for your thoughts! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
matthew 6:09 our father which art in heaven
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, Good Job!
LikeLike
how do you know? multiply 7 * 7
LikeLike
Infinity!
LikeLike
I really needed this today! I’m going to share this with a friend tomorrow as this is just what she needs to hear! Thank you for posting (must have been that Holy Spirit at work)!
LikeLiked by 2 people
So glad it touched your heart…may the Lord use it to encourage others! Bless you! ❤
LikeLike
Valerie well shared story. Might be I’m late to read it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are not late! Blessings to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Valerie, thank you! What a beautiful story of God’s love and grace.
“Someone who has gone through the fire and come out the other side is a living testimony to the power and grace of God.”
Amen! That is absolutely the truth! And, I was encouraged by your “this 24.” It ministered to me. Yes, one day at a time. That is all that we can do. We have no control over what tomorrow will bring and we can’t do anything about what happened yesterday. Thank you for this wisdom.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So happy it spoke to you. She is certainly an inspiration and encouragement to me! Hope you are doing well! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
True, but sometimes “this 24” is too much. I have known this feeling frequently during the last few weeks. “These five minutes” have seemed like too much sometimes. Yet I have gotten through “these five minutes” by grace, which, although always present, is more obvious to me in the darkness.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I know you are going through a time of grieving and loss of your dear friend. Sending my thoughts and prayers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
A DAY AT A TIME…GOD’S TIME!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for the reblog!!! Hope all is going well with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
A day at a time … words of wisdom.
Every day is a gift, we may not have tomorrow,
but we have eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ,
if we believe in Him! 🙂
❤️carmen
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lovely comment, lovely words and never truer! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was so encouraging. I tend to worry about things in the future. I need to remember to focus on this 24!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! Hope you are doing well! ❤
LikeLike
Yes, somebody told me a version of that when I was going through some of the darkest times of my life. One day at a time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is the answer for how to get through our problems and the tough times for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
St. Ignatij Brianchaninov in one of his letters calls “Depression” the worst logismoi, as it eventually leads to suicide. I post today a Video on my channel, where I read an Episode from the life of Archbishop Andrew Rymarenko of Rockland and his crisis of faith. As well read up on the martyrdom of St. Ignatius of Antioch … He described it as a birth… A coming to life. Leaving this place of death, to live with God in His eternal kingdom. And he would not let anyone prevent it from happening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So interesting! Thank you for the information!
LikeLike
This is so beautiful and inspiring, Valerie! ❤
LikeLike
So glad it touched your heart!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for the reblog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Penny Wilson Writes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like this a lot. It makes sense. I’m going to remember and try it. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad it spoke to you! Blessings to you, Anne! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Valerie! 🤗❤ And God bless to you always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too say “and this too, shall pass”.
Its helped me get through some scary days this year. My faith and my belief in my family. When there was no one to hug me, I only had to be quiet and knew His Comfort and His hand. 🤗
LikeLike
All any of us have is … this 24! Very good post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!! Hope you and your wife are doing well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we are doing very well! Hope you are as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So far so good…can hardly wait to get out a bit more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that is for sure!
LikeLike