Photo credit: Zeynep Karaman
If you are worn down and it’s hard to express what’s on your heart, be encouraged! The Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are speaking about you in heavenly languages–whispering love, singing healing, prophesying mercy, & infusing you with hope.
Peace be with you. You are so loved.
Go with what you know.
Every season of life tends to bring with it different situations, relationships, and challenges that we aren’t prepared for and are unsure how to navigate.
Those changes might come as blindsiding chaos, or slow shifts into different seasons of parenting, friendships, health issues, and managing our time.
Perhaps one key to getting through these seasons is to fall back on what you know about God. I mean back to the bare bones basics–He is sovereign, good, Savior, compassionate, and omnipotent.
What He promises in His word is true. He is closer than our next breath and has never left us alone. Never.
We are so deeply loved.
It’s good to remind ourselves of what He has already brought us through, given us His strength to handle, and the times He has simply carried us when we couldn’t go another step.
When I was battling an aggressive form of breast cancer there were days that I had nothing left to give and very little hope. Fear, pain, and the unknown were too overwhelming and that is when I KNOW He carried me and my family. He made a way where I couldn’t see one.
I had to go with what I knew about God even when it felt like I was walking down a dangerous, crooked path with no clear destination in the dark.
I knew He was good, kind, merciful, Healer, Warrior, Provider–Emmanuel and the God of the impossible. I knew He loved me and that is what I held on to.
When we focus on what we know about God and seek out moments of joy and blessings, I believe that the spirit of heaviness and sadness that the enemy desires to cover us with, can become a garment of praise and an oil of gladness that soothes and protects us, drawing us into the arms of Jesus.
I pray that whatever season you are in right now, you will take a minute to go with what you know about God. Breathe Him in. Ask Him for reminders, blessings, and precious bits of joy to sustain you, comfort you, and give you hope. He’s got you, my friend. You will be okay.
Photo credit: Luis Becerra Fotografo
Weakness. This isn’t a word most of us want to ascribe to ourselves. However, strength needs weakness. When we are at the end of ourselves is when Jesus has room to come in with His strength to protect and do the miraculous. I don’t believe He views our weakness as something to look down on or shake His head at in annoyance. I believe He views our weakness as a beautiful opportunity to shower us with His grace, love, and protection—to impart His perfect strength into us and our circumstances. He shows us glimpses of the future as He opens and closes doors. We see a foreshadowing of eternity as we watch Him do the impossible, comforting and healing us when life doesn’t turn out how we prayed it would.
He is the Weaver of our life tapestry. He sees the beginning, middle, and end. He intimately knows where our lives will intersect with another’s journey. Perhaps the unique and specific strengths He has given us will be exactly what is needed to help another—our strength perfectly matched to their circumstances.
Weakness doesn’t have to hold a negative connotation. It has much more depth than that. Perhaps there is a richness to it that speaks of humanity needing each other to get through life.
In another’s weakness we get the wonderful opportunity to be His hands, feet, and comfort. We are also blessed with opportunities to be on the receiving end of another’s strength. The life-song of humanity is a thing of beauty that intersects and strengthens as we witness startling acts of bravery and kindness, a chance to bring hope. There is beauty in weakness.
Photo credit: Dilara
I don’t know what is heavy on your heart this morning. I don’t know what thoughts and fears swirl in your mind on replay, but I do know that God sees it all.
I pray you will settle your shoulders and mind, releasing whatever it is that you are holding on to so very tightly into the hands of the Savior.
He has, is, and will fight for you, rescue you, love you, and provide for you. All you have to do is be still.
Peace be with you, friend, you are so very loved.
Photo Credit: Arek Socha
Share in the comments how you like to begin each day :-)
Do you feel it?
It’s a deep longing. An ancient ache, a supernatural discernment.
It is fierce and untamed. You can’t name it. But your spirit knows…
Something calling, singing, and leading you out into an open space–literally at times.
You sense it dancing through your thoughts, slipping around your heart, and calling out in languages known only to your spirit.
All you know is that you need to go– to find it, to be in it.
Soaked, submerged, covered in heavenly breath, timeless wisdom, peace that passes human understanding.
Creation knows Him. Nature sings and worships Him constantly without worry, fear, or trying to do it right. So much joy!
Forest trees bend and sway in ancient dances. Their branches always reaching up to their source of light and life.
Oceans crash and retreat in powerful displays that catch the cries of human hearts and pull the pain out and away.
Gentle mountain meadows thrum with life–birdsong, insects, and bubbling streams carrying healing, peace, and delight in their rhythms.
Do you feel it? The yearning for healing, refreshing, release?
Look for Him. Look for the Source of life.
Allow His whispers to lead You to Him.
You’ll hear Him in the wind that gently soothes your face, your tears, and carries your shouts, laughter, and silence up, up, up to the Throne Room.
Laughing streams will delight you, mountain air will refresh you, crashing waves will heal you, and the bench in the park under the trees will bring you rest as you find the One who’s been calling you. The One who knows you by name and sings heavenly songs over you is waiting for you. Breathe Him in and be at peace. Divine connection.
There’s a mysterious place deep in the woods. It’s far off the beaten path where no human has ventured. Untouched. Pure nature.
No boot prints are found, but there are footprints. Forest dwellers.
Creature paths appear random and meandering, but they are not. These trails are specific and intentional. They know where their food comes from and the safest way to get there. Provision. Trust.
Nestled into a craggy rock formation high on a forested slope, a spring bubbles up and over the roots and rocks, splashing its way down. It’s been bubbling and sparkling for years. Following a well-worn route along the forest floor, the stream bed weaves its way through gullies, towering pines, aspens, and mountain meadows. Sometimes the clear water tumbles and crashes over various forest debris, faster and faster as it descends. Other times, it slows and spreads, creating deep pools of cool water that laze along, peacefully chattering in swirls and eddies. Life-giving.
The absence of humans doesn’t mean the absence of sound. The deep woods are a sound garden of their own. Nature has a voice, and it’s primeval and beautiful.
The pines and aspens shiver and whisper with the wind as it sighs through branches and moves along tree trunks, creaking and bending—a symphony of sorts.
Sticks, dead leaves, and pine needles rustle and snap as unseen creatures forage and spy under fallen trees and twisting vines.
The babble of birdsong in the forest canopy sounds chaotic at first listen. But the trills, melodies, and harmonies blend into an exciting and joyful concerto that echoes through the trees, along the stream, and over the meadows.
Nightfall has its own unique orchestra. Whispery feathers blend with the haunting call of the owl in flight; it is otherworldly and beautiful. The stealthy sounds of night hunters and creepers as they prowl, hide, and call are eerie and supernatural.
This untouched slice of nature is a beautiful testament to Divine creation. The One who created all things sees and hears the happenings in the deep woods. It brings Him joy in its purity. The creaks and shushing of the wind in the canopy, rushing water, and the groans of nature are like a symphony of worship. His creation cries out to Him with joyful noises and complete trust in His provision. It is pleasing incense and a thing of deep beauty to Him who sits on the throne. Devoid of human voices, even the rocks cry out to the Father who holds the world in His hands.
Psalm 150:6 NLT “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
I always find God in Nature. Standing under the towering Redwoods that have been there for thousands of years is so humbling.
God’s hands that formed these majestic trees–His presence still lingers, and swirls, and fills my lungs with heavenly breath. Supernatural, ancient, wise.
This is His temple. His creation, His wisdom, His joy. I feel Him closer here than most anywhere else.
Extravagant Hope 