Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

In the spring of 2008 our world spun out of control. In retrospect I see how the Lord held us together, but at the time, NOTHING was going as planned and the future was scarily blank. Health issues caused us to leave Brazil rather suddenly and subsequently my husband and I found ourselves adrift in the U.S. without a home, a job, or even the prospect of returning to the mission field. It's been quite a journey and one of my most faithful companions along the way has been Sarah Young's book, Jesus Calling. Young is a missionary and licensed counselor, but most of all she's someone who has learned to look to God in difficult times and to "take advantage of her crosses." The book was written as she sat quietly in God's presence and took down notes as to what she thought He was saying to her. Reading a book written in first person from God's perspective was off-putting at first, but I quickly got over it because of the rich truths.

I have never underlined any book as profusely as I did this one so it is almost impossible to narrow down the quotes I want to share with you, but I'll give it a try.

You need Me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need for Me is your greatest strength.... Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice: deep dependence on Me, or despair. (Feb 22)

Difficulties are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone. (Mar 7)

Some fears surface over and over again, especially fear of the future. You tend to project yourself mentally into the next day, week, month, year, decade; and you visualize yourself coping badly in those times. What you are seeing is a false image, because it doesn't include Me. (Nov 9)

When you are plagued by a persistent problem - one that goes on and on - view it as a rich opportunity. An ongoing problem is like a tutor who is always by your side. The learning possibilities are limited only by your willingness to be teachable. (Dec 18)