Until Then

It sure has been a while since I have sat down and shared what was on my mind, in my heart and flowing in my soul. Writing for me has always been a huge passion. It has always been the best way I could express myself. If I owed someone an apology, I wrote a letter. If I needed to confront someone, I wrote a letter. If my heart was overflowing with so much love that I had to express it or burst, I wrote a letter.

So why after 20+ years, writing has become a stranger to me? Why is it that something that once flowed so freely from within can't break through this wall that has been built up?

Because I have helped build that wall and only I know how to tear it down.

Sitting here and "talking" to you all on a regular basis and opening up my heart, revealing to strangers my innermost thoughts, suddenly became a "fear" of mine. Being a blessing to someone who may be going through the same thing as me suddenly became scary because I suddenly became accountable for all I said. If I told you to hold on to God even if you did not feel His presence, it meant that I had to. If I told you to pray for others instead of being angry at them, it meant I had to. If I told you to hold your head high when your heart was breaking, it meant I had to.

The pressure was too much for me...And I honestly did not realize that this is why I was holding back until I just NOW grabbed my computer, logged onto blogger and started typing.

God revealed to me that I have not allowed grace to lead me through this process of sharing. Instead, I was letting the fear of failure stop me. And STOP me, it did.

I can't promise that I will be able able to sit here daily, weekly or even monthly and share what I have on my mind and in my heart with you like I used to. But I can promise that from here on out if that is what God WANTS me to do, I will try.

Until then........

Rachel W. Clark

I am not forgotten!

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance (Psalm 43: 5 KJV)

Today, I have been feeling slightly blah; a little downhearted, a little mope-y. Maybe it is changes in my life, maybe it is that I missed the much needed encouragement of fellowship with my Christian family today, or maybe it is a little bit of both.

Needing encouragement and support that can only come from one place, I diligently and desperately prayed to God tonight for His guidance and direction. I sank into a warm bath with my Bible in hand, closed my eyes and asked God to lead me to the place I needed to be; for Him to answer my hearts cry with wisdom from His word.

I opened to Psalm 43. I read, read and re-read. I felt God answer me- “Hope in - Me…. Praise - Me….Rely on - Me….” God’s timing was perfect and His answer to my prayer for wisdom left me feeling loved and renewed.

Encouragement is what I sought;it is what I prayed for God to give me. After already feeling blessed by His answer to my prayer, I felt a deeper tug from Him to look up the definition of “countenance” (who is the health of my countenance)

What did I see? approval or favor; encouragement; moral support---

He said to me yes, Rachel I approve of you and I favor you. I want to be your encouragement and I will always be your support.

Fill in the blank with your name: Yes ______ I approve of you and I favor you. I want to be your encouragement and I will always be your support.

Love, Rachel