Friendly Friday: A Boss Your Heart Message From a Friend

Fridays are for friends (bloggy or real life) to share their Boss Your Heart stories.  I'd love to share your message! Click HERE for more info!

Today's message is written by Victoria Wilguess, a 17-year-old suffering from chronic illness.  Thank you, Victoria, for sharing your message!

Only Temporary

Victoria Wilguess

This life is so temporary. If things are so temporary, why do we have such a hard time trusting God? Why do we ask, "when will this end"? In our hearts we know that the pain is temporary, but in our minds it seems like forever.

Four years ago, I got very sick. I was bedridden at the age of 13. Two years later, I saw a doctor across the country and was finally diagnosed with Late Stage Lyme Disease. I haven't attended school in over 2 years because of my health. I'm still trying to get into remission and praying that I don't keep relapsing.


From a worldly view, I have lost a lot. I'm sure each one of you have too. You might have lost a loved one, your job, or your health. At 17 years old, I never thought that I would struggle to walk. I never thought that I would have a disease that would require me to have a doctor across the country because no one in my state will treat me. I never thought that I would qualify for Make A Wish. I never thought that I would be admitted to the hospital an average of 18 times a year and even do IVs at home. Yes, from a worldly view I have lost a lot.


But from a heavenly view, I have gained more than I could ever imagine. My eyes have been opened to really understanding that God is good all the time. God has done and is doing so much in my life, and if I hadn't gotten sick, I don't know that I would trust Him as much as I do! I wouldn't realize how precious each and every moment is. At times, I still feel like Habakkuk in the Bible, and I'm sure you do too.


There are only 3 chapters and it is a conversation between God and Habakkuk. Habakkuk starts out.


“ How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted” Habakkuk 1:2-4


So Habakkuk is crying out to God, asking why His people are allowed to suffer. He wants to know how much longer they will have to suffer. God answers-


“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5


Habakkuk asks again why all of this is happening. God replies-


“But the LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him." Habakkuk 2:20


Habakkuk then goes on to trusting God’s plan and praising Him even though He can’t see at the time what God is doing


“LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2


Habakkuk ends with these verses-


“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. ” Habakkuk 3:17-19


• This book shows us that it is okay to question God, but to do it with respect


• Sometimes to get to the point where we will trust God completely, we have to go through suffering to understand how much we need God

• We need to be still and wait for Him because He always has a plan and is always in control

• He is always on His throne no matter where we are in life


• I love reading this because I know there are so many times where I ask God how much longer? God I’ve been sick for 4 years, isn't this enough? But the more that I trust God and wait for Him, the more blessings come out of this and the closer I grow to Him.


• The first time I read Habakkuk it reminded me of the song Praise You in this Storm. I’m sure you all have heard it but these are the lyrics that I thought of.


"I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.


Chorus:


And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm"


So, what does that mean for us today? We need to boss our heart, just like Chrissie, and actually BELIEVE that God is still good through our pain, and that we will grow closer to God through our trials. We need to boss our heart to focus on heavenly things, not earthly things, because what we see is temporary.


"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18




We can see that our bodies are wearing. We can see the grave stone of our loved one. We can see the violence in this world. But that will soon be over! In heaven, our bodies will not fail. In heaven, we will be with our loved ones forever. In heaven, there will be no violence or tears or suffering! Oh how I can't wait for that day! Until then, I will trust God, no matter how much I don't understand, because this sickness is only temporary no matter what doctors tell me.


"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39


In this world, you and I have so many more battles to fight. We might even lose some battles. But guess what? God has already won the war! How reassuring is that?! I pray that each one of us can boss our hearts just like Chrissie everyday!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26



Thanks again for this opportunity!
Victoria Wilguess
http://victoriawilguess.blogspot.com/