A Great Coping Technique

      Over the weekend God took me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to my limits, and from this I learned...I can handle more than I thought, and things can turn out better then expected if the attitude is right. I am a very introverted person, I find having company over or going to any social events (including family functions,) to be extremely exhausting after only a short time, and because of that I tend not to push myself into those situations and when I do, I usually make sure I have a way to end things quickly so I can get back to my quiet.
       This weekend however, that wasn't an option as my mother-in-law was spending the weekend with us, and immediately upon her departure we had to go to a family reunion that my parents were hosting about an hour from where we live. I spent a good portion of Thursday and Friday dreading the weekend, not because of who we would be with or what we would be doing, but because I feared getting burnt out and let's say being less than pleasant with people. It was a serious concern for me, because typically a busy social weekend like that would have me grouchy, and tired before Sunday ever came.
           This weekend though, as I drove home from work Friday evening I spoke with the Father. I prayed for endurance to get through the weekend with a good attitude and wisdom to know when to bite my tongue if I got to tired. He must have heard my prayers, because the whole weekend was a success, I made it through without any of the complications I feared, and was even asked to lead my family in prayer at the reunion, which I managed to do with out making a fool of myself!
           As wonderful as this all was, I know I didn't do it on my own, I didn't keep myself from exhausting myself just because I prayed. Prayer opened the door for the Father to intercede and help, and I responded to His intercession. When I started to feel too burned out, too tired, too grouchy a verse repeated itself in my head or actually a portion of a verse to be accurate,  from Isaiah 40:31, '... They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.' When I heard those words I would thank Him in my heart, and I would feel revitalized and able to continue on with a good attitude.
        My therapist would call this a great coping technique, and tell me it's great that I can use a verse that I memorized to help comfort and give me strength in an uncomfortable situation for myself. But I say this is evidence of God at work in one of the many of thousands of ways He reaches out to us daily, it is evidence of why learning scriptures are important, because we are meant to take strength and encouragement from them. Learning scripture is an important part of walking in a faith relationship with God, because it is through the scriptures we learn who our Father is, and build knowledge for times of difficulty for ourselves and others.

Isaiah 40:30-31
30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

2 Corinthians 4:1
1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.