Psalm 136:14-26 (KJV): To him which led his people through the wilderness

Psalm 136: 14-26
¹⁴And made Israel to pass through the midst of it:
      for his mercy endureth for ever:
¹⁵But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.

¹⁶To him which led his people through the wilderness:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.

¹⁷To him which smote great kings:
      for his mercy endureth for ever:
¹⁸And slew famous kings:
      for his mercy endureth for ever:
¹⁹Sihon king of the Amorites:
      for his mercy endureth for ever:
²⁰And Og the king of Bashan:
      for his mercy endureth for ever:
²¹And gave their land for an heritage:
      for his mercy endureth for ever:
²²Even an heritage unto Israel his servant:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.

²³Who remembered us in our low estate:
      for his mercy endureth for ever:
²⁴And hath redeemed us from our enemies:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.
²⁵Who giveth food to all flesh:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.

²⁶O give thanks unto the God of heaven:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.

Today my blog format changes slightly.  Every now and then life...I'm not sure if it's God this time...but life throws us a curve ball.  It could be God testing my commitment to my recovery, I suppose.  I any case the curveball, today, came in the form of Google migrating its Picasa platform to Google Plus.  Normally, I guess this shouldn't be a big deal.  However, in Google Plus there's no longer a "link to this photo" option.  So, I had to import the photo manually - which created a bit of a format change - and took some time to set-up.  Hence some of the delay in getting this blog up.

The point of all this, is this, just as we get comfortable, things change, and we have to adapt.  That's all part of the story.  Some changes are going to be acceptable and easy to manage.  Others, especially when we're more set in our ways, are going to seem near impossible to get used to.  These changes bring fear, frustration, and in extreme cases, threaten us.  If we learn to rely on our faith in times of small change, then we will tend to rely on our faith in times of large, or larger, change.

As was the case for God's people, here in Psalm 136, whom he brought out of Egypt, and brought change into their lives.  The journey through desert is likely a good metaphor for change.  Especially, in our case of recovery.  Our journey through recovery seems long and arduous, lonely and overwhelming.  We may feel like we are wandering at times.  Nevertheless, we need to learn from the Isrealites lessons that change is always an opportunity.  God brings these changes, with the fear and frustration, as opportunities to rely on our faith to reach a destination or goal.  Ultimately, a goal of some kind of salvation.

Lord, be with me today on my journey as I continue to experience changes.  Changes which will bring opportunities to more holy, and opportunities where I can continue to share your light.  As I experience these changes, whether small or large, help me and guide me so that my faith in you can grow and become stronger.  Help bring me to a point that my faith is so strong that I can truly embrace change without fear.  For I know that fear means failure.  For in fear we freeze, when we freeze we are incapable of growth.  Fear keeps me from a strong relationship with You, Lord.  Give me the faith and courage to live a life you intend.  In Yours sons name.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.