I’ve been thinking about this post for a while. I hadn’t written it yet because it was originally targeted to a very small audience: those with chronic illness, who also happen to enjoy the Dragon Keeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul, and who remember one very specific scene from the books.
Yeah. It seemed pretty unpractical to me too. Therefore, I saved my bookish thoughts until the end, in a separate section so that those who don’t fit into that very specific category can enjoy this too. 😉
Overwhelmed. Surrounded. Overtaken. Outnumbered.
Do you feel that way? Like there is just too much to face? You think, perhaps you could handle one, or even two or three, of one of the many things coming at you, but with so many different battles you are trying to fight, you feel one slip away from crumpling with it all on top of you?
I know the feeling. The question is, what is the answer? What do you do when you feel that way? When you’ve reached the end of your rope?
Abraham Lincoln put it this way: “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot, and hang on.”
The thing is, I often feel like when I reach the end of my rope, I don’t have the strength to reach up enough to tie the knot. You know? So what’s the answer!
As my friend says, “It’s Jesus.” (Miss you, Megan!)
We run to God’s waiting arms of love, casting ourselves on Him. For He is strong, He is our mighty rock and fortress. He is our shield against the many things coming at us from every direction.
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all Psalm 34:19 (NIV)
Little Black Dragons: the promised bookish thoughts section
Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lift my head high I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
Psalm 3:1-3, & 5-6 (NIV)
Do remember the part in Dragonlight where Kale, as a Dragon Keeper, was targeted by these armies of little black dragons? Little black dragons, whom she could handle just fine on their own, but when they came in armies threatened to overwhelm her. Or what about that scene where there was an earthquake, and the children of the village reacted strangely by curling up in balls on the ground? Well, keep those in mind for a moment. I wrote down the above scriptural reference in my journal back in September, along with the following prayer:
“Lord, there are so many attackers! As Kale makes a shield against the hundreds of little black dragons intent on her, You are my shield. The One who lifts up my head high when all I want to do is curl up like the children in the earthquakes and cover my head, then rush to assure everyone I’m alright. You did not give us a Spirit of fear, but of love, power, and self-discipline/a sound mind. As Kale has that power, fill me up & show me how to use it. For this, Lord, I beg. I’m not worthy, but You have said that whoever asks, receives. You know how to give good gifts to Your children.
I wake again, I go about another day for You, because You, the Lord, sustain me- heart, soul, mind, and body.”
They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:11-14 (NIV)
What did you think of this post? One of the ways my brain works, and that helps me sort out life, is to compare it to books! Strange, perhaps, but that’s just how I am! I have many more comparisons between fiction and chronic illness… what do you think? Would you like more?
Never read those books, but I think my family owns them…I’ll have to check them out!
Yes, they are quite fun, and light-hearted. Though the plot isn’t very smooth, the characters are so fun and lovable. 😉