Here's an excerpt from Isaiah 43 (The Message):

Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you...

Okay, you guessed it, I can relate to this a bit lately. Why else would I have included it, eh?

Between some junk going on in my extended family and just a lot of "stuff" at work (though work itself really hasn't been all bad lately) I am feeling a bit in over my head.

I am not quite sure how to climb back onto dry land. I work to take solace in the knowledge that God will lead me out of this and that, from going through this time, I will be stronger and better prepared for times I will face in the future, perhaps even important times of doing His work. It is hard to grasp that solace sometimes though -- my humanness wants to pull me back down into fears and self doubts. What I need to do is grasp His hand and be pulled out. He is there alongside me all the time. I know that.

I try to maintain an even keel through all of this. Lisa and a couple of close friends are listening ears and they provide comfort and strength for me with God working through them. I am truly blessed.

As Isaiah 53 says, God paid a huge price for me. That is incredible. My actions and thoughts make me so undeserving. He will see me through the difficult times now ... I pray that I can leave my frail human thoughts behind me, that just as so many others are showing God's love to me, I can indeed grasp His hand, be pulled through this situation, hopefully showing God's love to others the best I can, even now when I am feeling in over my head.