Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night and you just couldn’t go back to sleep? 🙋🏻♀️
Oddly, that actually happened to me the night before my sister got married. I woke up at 4 in the morning and to my dismay didn’t go back to sleep.
So I did what I always do when I can’t sleep—pray for whoever the Lord brings to my mind. After I finished praying, I thought I’d listen to some Psalms. As I was relaxing and halfway listening to Psalm 31, I heard this verse in a new way: Psalm 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
That verse strengthened and comforted me during an exciting and emotional day. After that weekend I wrote this verse in my journal. When I was looking through all the verses I’ve written out in this particular journal, I was surprised (for some reason) that I had written another verse from Psalm 31 in 2016. That year for me was a spiritual growth season. As I look back at my journals and blog posts during that year of 2016, I see my dependence on God growing. I’m so thankful for the reminder in this verse: Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
I’m thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness in my life this year. I would probably burst into tears if I typed all the small and big ways God has loved and cared for me. One is the fact that I woke up early that day and “just happened” to listen to Psalm 31:7. Plus the fact I was able to walk around everywhere before the wedding very relaxed. Plus I never fell one time that weekend. Talk about a miracle!
This year dystonia has been getting on my nerves so much. It wears me out at times. But when I read the phrase in verse seven I am encouraged. “For thou hast considered my trouble;”
When I looked up what the word trouble means in verse seven, it means depression, that is misery, afflicted (-ion).
David was going through different circumstances than what I’m facing and that I probably won’t go through. But I love that he recognizes that the Lord considers the trouble he was going through and first says “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy;”
I can replace the word “trouble” with “for thou hast considered my dystonia, job, mate, health, year, etc.”
After living with dystonia for years, I have learned when I come the closest to the Lord is in the dark and depressing times. …for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2nd Corinthians 12:10b
Suffering is a part of life for some more than others. I recently heard Joni Eareckson Tada quote this encouraging statement by Alan Redpath.
“There is nothing—no circumstance, no trouble, no testing—that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose.”
-Alan Redpath
What a wonderful and comforting thought that is!
Abiding With Joy Studio 
This is so encouraging, Abigail! You always inspire me. 💗
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Thank you, precious Abigail, for sharing your insights into trouble. We all face some trouble—just in different ways.
I think of Ahab calling Elijah the troubler of Israel. He accused Elijah of the very actions he was committing against the nation.
Then, there are the lines of the spiritual—“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows but Jesus.”
God bless you, dear Abigail.
With love ❤️
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Oh my, lovely Abigail. You’ve touched my heart again. Just when I get in a slump & start complaining about my pain & questioning how long will I be able to work you post something like this. I have nothing to complain about compared to so many others & have so much to be thankful for including that I still am able to work. Bless you for being such a shining example to so many. Praise God.
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Thank you again, my sweets, for your encouragement!! II Corinthians 12:9-10 are favorite verses of mine…His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Paul was quite an example to us wasn’t he?! I know he wasn’t perfect, and in that passage he even acknowledged that he asked the Lord to take away his infirmity. But, I LOVE that he pointed us to Christ, His strength, and what was right. You do the same thing. You tell us of your struggle and you let us know you’re real, and then you acknowledge where your strength and hope come from. I love it and I’m so thankful for you!! Love you bunches!!❤️😘❤️
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I think it is wonderful you journal as the LORD speaks to you through HIS Word. So glad you were able to be relaxed and walk without falling at your sister’s wedding. GOD surely takes your trouble in mind and great reward awaits you in Heaven for trusting in HIM, depending on HIM, making HIM known, and keeping your faith in HIM… So good to read a post from you and as always encouraging to me for encouragement is one of your spiritual gifts… You’re on my mind’s prayer list of who I pray for before going to sleep at night… May GOD our FATHER keep you in HIS love and care as you abide in JESUS…
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Thank you for this Abigail! This was very encouraging to my soul! I love how God uses your story, your struggles, and your writing to help others!!! I know it helps me ❤️ Love you so much!! 🥰😘
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Hi Abigail,
When my mother would wake up in the middle of the night, she would say that she “ran out of sleep!” I’m glad to know what you during those ‘run out of sleep’ times.
I have friends who are Buddhist, Hindu’s, Muslims, and atheist’s. At first, I wouldn’t talk to them about problems I was having, but one day, a situation came up where, after talking about the problem, I was able to give an answer as to how God answered.
This was a reminder to me that, even as it was for Rahab and Jericho, my friends need to see that Jehovah God not only hears my cries, but answers!
I have yet to hear one of these friends tell me something that their belief system has heard and answered.
If Jehovah God is not alive in our lives, even in the trials, our unsaved friends have no reason to leave their gods. Problems give us wonderful opportunities to be a witness of the love and grace of our Great God and Father!
By the way, these friends call and ask me to pray for them, and I do, asking the Lord to show Himself to them in answering.
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my thoughts are much the same as those that have already posted. you always have the perfect words and Bible references that we need to remember. thank you!!!
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Wow, Abby, good insights from scripture! Thank you for expressing your thoughts so well and sharing them so they can encourage others. Sure love you!
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Amen, Abby! Great article! It was a blessing and encouragement to me! And I can see you are being a blessing to many!! Love you!
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Bless you, beautiful, brave and wise little sister Abigail♥️! I thank God always for the inspiration, comfort and strength He continually brings through you to many like me! Much love and REAL hugs to you and your family from me and mine2 Thess 1:11-12♥️!
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