a reflection of sorts

in one of my very first posts i mentioned how reading through the Bible in one year was one of the "books" i wanted to read.  earlier tonight when i thought about doing this post i was going to brag about how i proud i am for keeping up on my daily readings.  then i checked the list of what to read on each day and realized i am a chapter (or two) behind.  hmmm.  just more to read tomorrow.  or later today i suppose.

today, this passage really stood out to me.

Deuteronomy 8: 2-5

And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³ So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. ⁴ Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. ⁵ You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.

our lives are filled with many trials.  and some days may seem impossible.  certain situations may seem that they will be our undoing.

but they aren't.  the Lord wants to know what is our heart.  He humbles us.  But he doesn't leave us.

i am not filled with many more wisdomous words at this later hour.  but i believe this passage serves as a strong and loving reminder.  our lives will not be perfect, and we will experience pain- but it doesn't mean that the Lord is away from us.  He is right there.  And He wants us to know that we don't need what we think we need- we don't need bread alone- all we need is Him.  

Also from today's reading:

Deuteronomy 6: 4-10

⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 
⁶ “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

And that's all.  That's what matters.  I guess when I find myself feeling stumped on life, or wondering what or why or how- I can remember this.  It all comes down to this.