Heavy

2024 seems to be a challenge year for a lot of people.

Back in early January I asked a friend how things were going in her world and she answered, “Heavy.” Yesterday, I was visiting with a neighbor who is feeling the weight of several situations.

The burdens are all around us!

I think it is important to acknowledge the challenges we are facing. We don’t need to pretend things are all hippy skippy. But, when things are heavy, it weighs us down. And that makes slogging through the day more difficult.

Recognizing my limitations is so helpful during these times. God does not expect me to be a hero. He doesn’t expect me to “save” all the situations. But He does ask me to bring all these burdens and difficulties to him. He wants me to share my heart. He wants to share the load. And He wants us to trust that He is working things out.

Yes, we know people can make choices that will damage others and as we watch those decisions play out it is painful. We might be living with or ministering to the person who is left living with the challenging situation. How can we bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted?

We cannot. Only the Lord can.

He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 NIV

There are many brokenhearted all around us. And sometimes we are the ones who are crushed in spirit. Ask God to refresh and renew your perspective today. Ask Him to send some respite and relief. Thank Him for anything you can muster up the energy to be thankful for.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV

As you move through your day, keep an eye open for those who are struggling. Pray for them. Offer to pray with them. Consider lending a hand to help them move through their circumstance with a loving friend. We can only pour into others what has been poured into us. Ask Jesus to fill you so you can be available for others.

Respecting Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NIV

Do you find yourself feeling guilty about resting? I find that my mind has been trained to think that rest is for the weak. I don’t always notice my own subtle thoughts along those lines but sometimes I hear them in conversations with others: “I slept in and was lazy today.” or “I feel lazy when I sit for just a few moments.”

Those with busier personalities may have a harder time with sitting still. And others of us may do a good job resting and recovering as they prepare for the next thing. Do you allow time for physical and emotional rest?

Not all situations are demanding physically. Some circumstances require heart and soul work, but they each use our energy. I am just thinking about regular life here — you know, when things seem to be ok. We are working and doing life and day-by-day things are going smoothly. But throw in something that is demanding either short term or long term and we will find we need even more rest.

If we are living and breathing life on this Earth, we will all experience something that is demanding and maybe even soul crushing. I pray that you are in regular communication with God before that happens. Or that you start resting in Him now. When we are weary and burdened He will give us rest. As we seek God’s will and wisdom for our circumstances, He will give us the rest we are desperate for.

Sit a while and consider His offer for rest. Rise refreshed with renewed strength for your day. Let Him carry you through your circumstances.

It’s personal…

It might be easy to look at the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and be shocked and disappointed about the betrayal by those who had a role in this agonizing and heartbreaking moment as it unfolded.

How could they?

How could God?

Jesus’ disciples, friends, and family had a front row seat. I can’t imagine watching it all. It’s easy to point an incredulous finger and have a look of disgust. But I have to remember that even though this took place before I drew my first breath, God’s plan was laid out…

…for me and my rebellion…

….for you and yours…

It’s personal.

God’s love came down and took our sins on as His own.

God provides all that we cannot: love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and salvation.

Father, please give us eyes to see…

and hearts compelled to pray for those in our lives, especially those who are struggling. If we are shown a circumstance that might need action on our part, help us to step out and inquire in a loving way.

How can I help?

Forgive us when we see needs but don’t check in. It happens. Sometimes we miss the signs, but, other times, we sense are not in a position to help, or we are flat out unwilling. Give us the wisdom about when to gently ask, when to act, when to intercede, when to show up and help share the load.

Amen.

Dear Lord…

Today I am praying for all of the people I am related to by blood or law. It’s such a long list. I am not sure how often some of these folks pray — for themselves or others — because everyone is in a different place in their relationship with God and it is my privilege to pray for them! I love them each and so I pray for :

their relationship with God, May they grow in their knowledge of His love for them and their need for a Savior.

perseverance through trials

physical health

mental and emotional health

good relationships with the people they love and care about

their jobs and studies

I typically start with my husband, our children, and the grandchildren. Then I move on to my siblings and their spouses and their children. Then my husband’s siblings and spouses and children and grandchildren. Then the living aunts and uncles on both sides and then all the cousins and their families. Then I move onto the next round of second and third cousins on my side and then to those on Don’s side. I don’t necessarily list everyone’s names the further down the line I go because I actually don’t know or remember all the kids of all the cousins but I typically will say the head of the family and ask God to bless those who fall under that family line. Honestly, it all depends on the time I have that day. And it may not always be a formal prayer time. If they cross my mind during a day, I might just ask God to bless their day and their situation. Formal prayer time is great, but I would rather think of my day as one long conversation with God.

Heavenly Father…

Please be with those we know who are struggling with physical and mental illness. Please be with the doctors as they diagnose and treat. Please be with the patient as their bodies and minds respond to the medication and therapy and head towards healing. Please be with friends and family members who love and support and encourage the patient.

We ask for Your love and compassion to be poured out on those who are learning that their condition is incurable. May they find comfort in You and, if they don’t know You, may they be drawn to You. May we find ways to be of service to those who are walking this road in our circle.

Only You know the number of our days. May we have courage to share our faith in You when we are in a position to, entrusting those we love into Your care and continue to intercede for them even if their hearts are not ready to receive You. May we never grow weary of interceding for others. Give us eyes to see the needs of those around us.

Amen.

I can’t always be there

As much as I would love to be that person who can rush in and be present for every high and low, I cannot commit to that.

And I cannot expect others to be, either. There are times when we have to go it alone or accept the help from those that are right there at the moment of need. Our situations are no surprise to God. And He often places those people who can love and serve us directly in our space for reasons we cannot understand, except that He is God and He knows what He is doing.

He is always there.

Even when we have to “go it alone”, God is right there. And often leaning into Him is the way to make progress, even if that feels counterintuitive.

God with is – Immanuel. He guides and protects and sustains us. He gives us what we need. His grace is all sufficient. Accept His presence and His gifts.

I am impatient

I am impatient in a variety of ways. When I am in learning mode, I don’t like to be rushed, so I need to be more mindful and be a loving friend, cheering someone on and not be that person who is hassling someone while they are “in process”. I am not always able to let others discover what they need to discover and give them the time and space to do that. While I do think we are in one another’s lives to help and encourage, there is a balance about how far that goes. And, I might need to be a better friend to myself and not hassle myself when it is taking me a while to learn something.

I know it is dangerous to ask God for patience. This life is a marathon, not a sprint. And I am thankful for the slow lessons along the way. You know, those lessons you can feel deep in your bones because you have lived them through the years. They are a part of your core.

Maybe, a part of my impatience is that I want to get to the other side of the situation. If I can’t go around it, I want to come through it as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that aren’t quickly moved through.

Think of an amazing meal — there is usually a lot of time that goes into the gathering and preparation of the food. It might marinate for days. It might cook all day on the stove. Getting all the elements together to be ready to be served at the same time really is an art. Pair it with some tableware, delightful company, and a nice wine and it is more of an experience. These things take time. Relationships take time. Epiphanies take time.

I am trying to be more mindful of process. My confession is that I am impatient. I know God forgives my impatience. And I know that he is growing me in this area. As usual, some days it clicks more than others.

Wonderful Counselor

I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:25-27 NLT

God has given us so many wonderful gifts that we often do not take advantage of. One of them is His teachings. He tells us who we are. He tells us who He is. He speaks loving words — words of life — to us. And somehow, the world crowds out those words of beauty, mercy, love, grace, forgiveness, and restoration.

Stay close to The Word!

God gives us wise counsel. His guiding principles are all over Scripture. He offers us peace of mind and heart though we often search high and low all over the world to find it.

Remember His Words!

You are loved. You are His creation. He will never leave or forsake you. You are His child.

Today I am resting in God’s Words of love and grace — they give me peace of mind and heart.

Glory and Majesty

Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord! Psalm 111:3-4

A look at Creation surely reveals God’s majesty. It is easy to be in awe: the stars that fill the sky or the transformation of the butterfly. And there is the personal side of things: the provision of a Savior, the gift of love and sacrifice through Jesus, the daily gifts of grace and mercy.

The day gets so busy and sometimes seems to run away with me. But allowing a pause — better yet, creating the pause, allows us that time to remember His works in our world and His work in our lives and His work on our hearts.

As you start each day, may you create the space to reflect on God’s glory and majesty. Dig a little deeper into Psalm 111 today. Start listing the things God has done or is doing. He is always working to reveal is glory and majesty. When we stop for a bit, sometimes we can catch a glimpse. And, when we are face-to-face with Him in Heaven, I am sure we will be in absolute awe!