The devil and his schemes

I have been beyond happy lately. Happy with my life, happy with where God seems to be leading me, happy with all the new and wonderful friends He is bringing my way, happy with my weight loss...just all around happy. Well, yesterday morning brought a little something I wasn't prepared for and I found myself spiraling down. Nothing serious by any means, but just enough to get me in a yucky mood. I woke up with the most intense headache I have had in a really long time. My eyes literally were refusing to stay open and I thought for sure I was going to throw up. I took excedrine migraine and my awesome husband stayed home from work to take care of Asher because I was basically incapable of functioning. I slept until 11:00 in the morning and when I woke up, the headache wasn't as intense, but it was definitely still there. I showered, hoping it would refresh me and make me feel better...nope. I ate, hoping it would settle my stomach...nope. Then, I finally took a sinus pill. I could tell a difference, but the headache was still there, nagging. I went out for coffee with my friend, Ann, and I think just being with her took my mind off of how yucky I felt. Once I got home though, I just felt like crud. I went to bed in the hopes of waking up this morning feeling refreshed and ready for a new day. Ha! That wasn't to be the case. I woke up with the headache still going strong and my stomach just turning. I had way too much to get done today in preparation for leaving for Halloween camping when the boys get out of school, so this just wasn't going to work for me. I took a sinus pill, but nothing seemed to be happening and I was getting irritated at this point. Then, apparently something from a jacket that was in the wash, bled all over the rest of the load of laundry and I didn't realize it until the clothes came out of the dryer, so an entire load of laundry was ruined. Ok, I had had it. I was fuming. I literally almost cried. I mean, seriously? I have this massive headache for the second day in a row, I have a ton to get done and an entire load of laundry (mostly mine, of course) gets destroyed?! I started venting to Brian via instant messenger and he was trying to be all logical and rational about the whole ordeal, which frankly made me want to punch him at that very moment (and I told him so) LOL, but I knew he was right. I knew when he said that the enemy was trying to discourage me and for me not to let him do it and instead focus on all of the amazing and positive things God is doing in my life and how blessed I am, instead of letting this get to me, that he was absolutely right. You know what? I started praying right after that conversation and I know God heard me because my headache is gone, I don't at all feel discouraged right now and I could care less about the goofy sweatshirts that got ruined in the laundry. God was right there all along and I can almost picture Him saying "I'm right here, all you have to do is ask for help." Isn't it funny how we can get so wrapped up in feeling sorry for ourselves that we completely forget that God is right there with us, that He sees our struggles and that He's just waiting for us to come to Him? How awesome is that?

So, I say "Forget you, devil. You WILL NOT steal my joy. I have the joy of the Lord and I will not let you discourage me and distract me from what is real and true."

Praise God for His faithfulness, goodness and love!