I thought I’d take the time to write up a post as to where I’m at right now with everything. Today is Friday and Portland, Oregon’s air is the worst in the world at the moment. The wildfires have been horrible and devastating. I live in a suburb outside of Portland, and the sky is completely yellow and covered with smoke. Conversations are happening with people living near me about whether we will be called to evacuate next.
So, it’s been a weird week to look beyond the wildfires surrounding all of us (both literally, and for many of us, figuratively), and look for jobs, do work on writing, while also being there for family, maintaining a positive outlook as much as I can, and most importantly, keeping my focus on God.
Just now, I applied to another job. About my fourth this week. In this economy, I’m thankful to even have jobs to apply to. In fact, on another positive angle, I have a phone interview this week! I’m also thankful for the fact that I have a couple of freelance writing jobs that bring in some income.
On top of all of this today, it’s September 11th, which will be a date I never forget. I was in my freshman year of high school at the time, and remember my mom coming out that morning saying, “Something happened in New York. Turn on the TV.” Nothing has been the same since everyone watched those planes go into those towers and those buildings collapse to the ground.
If today is a heavy day for you, and I think it is for all of us, I pray you to look to God and find the good He has brought into your life today. If you can. Sometimes it seems impossible to find. Sometimes it’s too dark. And I can tell you, I’ve been there. I was there last night and feeling so anxious. My mom and I talked and she reminded me that God is greater than any storm in front of us. Right now, the immediate storm in my life are wildfires that threaten our community and lives.
I have a song to share, it’s called, “Praise You in This Storm.”
It’s uplifting, and it reminds me that no matter what happens, God is a good loving, compassionate God that carries us through any storm in front of us. One of the verses that helps me so much is 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. I pray that you find Him today in the midst of your storm.