Thanksgiving

So today is Thanksgiving and I truly have a lot to be thankful for. For starters, I am so thankful that God is merciful, loving, slow to anger, FORGIVING, and is the corner stone for me to live my life by because I am none of those things and without Jesus I am just stumbling in the dark. To say it's been an "eventful" week is being kind with my words since the past 7 days have been a roller coaster of emotions from anger to irritability. Last Wednesday I was on my way home from DeLand to turn in some paperwork to apply for substitute teaching and I got into a car accident. I am fine, thank God, but my car is not. The whole front end was damaged and although my car is still driveable during the day (I'm missing a headlight, it's really a tragic sight) it's going to need a lot of body work. Right before the holidays right? Yeah, that's been my attitude. And I know it's wrong and I've been praying and trying to be in the word more, but it's been hard fighting these feelings. Since the accident I gave into the "WHY ME!?" attitude and then felt convicted because right afterwards someone posted on Facebook about the trials and tribulations we often go through and instead of asking "why me" we should ask "why not me?" I tell you, when God is trying to get the message through, he sure gets the message through. So now the million dollar question, What am I supposed to learn from this/How is God going to use this for his purpose? I don't know the answer, but I am trusting that God does have a purpose and I am leaning on the truth that nothing can happen to me without first going through His hands. I won't lie, since the accident I was feeling very uneasy and unsure of going to Thailand. I had this unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach that something else was going to happen that would prevent me from going on the trip, but: 

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 27:1 Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

and my personal favorite...Lamentations 3:31-32 For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion according to the greatness of his love

So, if God is telling me not to fear, I'm going to listen to the guy who came back from the dead (words from the wise Jerry) and trust God.