The following article ran in the Burbank Leader, Feb. 19, 2007. I thought some of the regular blog readers would enjoy it. The verse especially caught my attention both because I happen to like that one, and because I've seen it on Katy's blog several times.
FAMILY FAITH:Trust God's plan for us
By KIMBERLIE ZAKARIAN
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
This popular proverb calls people to trust in God amid each and every one of life's circumstances. As I write this column, I am in New York at a conference for a rare disease called Hermansky Pudlak syndrome (a platelet dysfunction that can effect people with albinism).
While I look around me at all the children and adults affected by this syndrome, my mind has countless thoughts and my heart experiences profuse emotions.
Scores of people attending this conference pray for their family members. Why do some people suffer more than others in life?
This conference had numerous physicians presenting on different aspects of this disease. On our last night of the conference, there was a special dinner dance. I looked around me at all the people who joyfully kicked up their heels, danced, and took pleasure in life.
This is when I began to consider the power of perspective. Some people with this disease have a mild form. But many others with a more severe strain demonstrated, by their outlook, that they have learned to live their life to the fullest. These precious individuals laughed, danced, helped others, and were cheerful and reciprocating in conversation. What causes some people to be content in life? And what makes others, with fewer problems, live unhappy existences?
Perspective probably has something to do with it, no matter what religion you uphold. Some people are naturally more optimistic, happier, or have the inner strength of a survivor. This is a fact. However, as Christians, we can choose to find extra strength and peace from Scripture — the reading, believing and obeying of it.
Proverbs 3 gives us encouragement to trust God much in the way that some of the people in the Old Testament did. David, Caleb, and countless others strove to serve and obey God. They acknowledged him and served him with eager and faithful hearts. As they dedicated their lives to God, he removed hindrances that could have blocked the path he had created for them. Life did not always go as they expected — God does not promise us that. But God did give them victory in his own way. He did not forsake them.None of us knows what life holds.
As I sit at this conference, I look at many people who are, or will become, sick. I understand that God knows the plans he has for them and for me. When we pray and obey God, we can expect peace and his strength to get us through. We cannot anticipate perfection. God promises that he will never give us more than we can handle. But we need to allow Him to be our strength and help us turn our cheek and thus our vision toward His perspective. In this way, we have the opportunity to derive a fresh viewpoint; God's perspective. Once we have attained that, we can submit to his peace — no matter the circumstances.
THE REV. KIMBERLIE ZAKARIAN can be reached at holyhouse9aol.com or by mail at Holy House Ministries c/o the Rev. Kimberlie Zakarian, 9641 Tujunga Canyon Blvd., Tujunga, CA 91042.
FAMILY FAITH:Trust God's plan for us
By KIMBERLIE ZAKARIAN
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
This popular proverb calls people to trust in God amid each and every one of life's circumstances. As I write this column, I am in New York at a conference for a rare disease called Hermansky Pudlak syndrome (a platelet dysfunction that can effect people with albinism).
While I look around me at all the children and adults affected by this syndrome, my mind has countless thoughts and my heart experiences profuse emotions.
Scores of people attending this conference pray for their family members. Why do some people suffer more than others in life?
This conference had numerous physicians presenting on different aspects of this disease. On our last night of the conference, there was a special dinner dance. I looked around me at all the people who joyfully kicked up their heels, danced, and took pleasure in life.
This is when I began to consider the power of perspective. Some people with this disease have a mild form. But many others with a more severe strain demonstrated, by their outlook, that they have learned to live their life to the fullest. These precious individuals laughed, danced, helped others, and were cheerful and reciprocating in conversation. What causes some people to be content in life? And what makes others, with fewer problems, live unhappy existences?
Perspective probably has something to do with it, no matter what religion you uphold. Some people are naturally more optimistic, happier, or have the inner strength of a survivor. This is a fact. However, as Christians, we can choose to find extra strength and peace from Scripture — the reading, believing and obeying of it.
Proverbs 3 gives us encouragement to trust God much in the way that some of the people in the Old Testament did. David, Caleb, and countless others strove to serve and obey God. They acknowledged him and served him with eager and faithful hearts. As they dedicated their lives to God, he removed hindrances that could have blocked the path he had created for them. Life did not always go as they expected — God does not promise us that. But God did give them victory in his own way. He did not forsake them.None of us knows what life holds.
As I sit at this conference, I look at many people who are, or will become, sick. I understand that God knows the plans he has for them and for me. When we pray and obey God, we can expect peace and his strength to get us through. We cannot anticipate perfection. God promises that he will never give us more than we can handle. But we need to allow Him to be our strength and help us turn our cheek and thus our vision toward His perspective. In this way, we have the opportunity to derive a fresh viewpoint; God's perspective. Once we have attained that, we can submit to his peace — no matter the circumstances.
THE REV. KIMBERLIE ZAKARIAN can be reached at holyhouse9aol.com or by mail at Holy House Ministries c/o the Rev. Kimberlie Zakarian, 9641 Tujunga Canyon Blvd., Tujunga, CA 91042.
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