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.
The forest knows her name. She feels it’s gentle pull and call. Come and rest, re-center, and decompress. Melodies and harmonies of peace, joy, and ancient things.
Busyness, worry, and overthinking also know her name and they’ve been calling – shouts, demands, and confusing voices. Chaos circles looking for a crack, a chink, a tiny fissure to slink into.
It’s hard to let go of worry and expectations. Fear tells her that if she rests, breathes too deeply, and allows expectations to sit awhile, all sorts of disasters and sinister things may happen. What-if…
Lately there is a restless feeling that pricks and swirls in her mind and soul; a sensation of something just ahead slipping out of sight, waiting around the next bend in the path. Not as a fear-based shout, but a whispered song to come, explore, release – seek, find, and be blessed. Be healed.
She listens and makes her way to the forest. Her favorite path winding through Redwoods – so old, so wise, so healing – invites a quieted mind and tender heart open to the Divine whispers held in creation. Golden silence alive with the sounds of nature. Everything interwoven with His breath, His hands, His healing, and His peace.
The safety and wisdom she’s seeking seeps into her soul. There is rest and healing here. No expectations. Creator and creation singing to her spirit of love, rejuvenation, and acceptance. Supernatural, holy, ancient things are all around. Healing, mysterious, and deep.
The cracks and fissures from living life are filled in with His love, protection, and compassion. She won’t be the same when she leaves here and that is a divine and beautiful thing.
Deep calling to deep in the midst of Divine creation. He knows her name – she will always be welcome, always be healed.
Photo credit: Sergio Zhukov
I am a worrier and an overthinker. I rehearse all the what-ifs because I’m afraid of being blindsided and having no control.
Like many of us, bad things have blindsided me more times than I like to remember. The blindsiding leaves wounds that don’t quite heal–a nervous system always on alert, scanning and planning to try and prevent one more thing. It is an exhausting way to live and takes such a toll on us.
I’m in a season of life where I want more joy, peace, calm, and a surrendered way of living. Surrendered. That’s a tough one for us controllers. I am a work in progress!
Each day I talk to Jesus about everything going on. I do my best to carefully place all the people, things, pets, circumstances, and what-ifs into His hands…and leave them all there with Him. I confess, I often have to give it all to Him again and again, but He knows my heart. He knows I’m trying and how hard and frightening it is.
I love this verse. I needed to see it today. This is truth. Worrying will not add anything joyful, peaceful, calm, or surrendered to my life. It will perpetuate the cycle of fear, hyper-vigilance, and rehearsing all the outcomes.
I don’t want to miss the beauty, joy, peace, and blessings that my Father wants to pour out for me to enjoy and rest in, as I go about my day. He wants to do that for you, too, my fellow worrier. How He loves us!
I prayed for us this morning that God would speak to us, heal us, and calm our worried minds, as He reminds us that He’s got us and He’s trustworthy. He won’t fail us.
Father,
I pray for the one who is wrestling with uncertainty. They are at a crossroads right now and have choices to make. Voices of friends and family are coming at them from all sides. Noise, chatter, and strong opinions are overwhelming, and they can’t hear themselves think. They want so much to do the right thing, to follow You, and please You.
I pray that You will silence the noise and bring them out into a spacious place where they can rest their mind in stillness and peace. Give them a safe place to truly hear Your voice. You have guided them in the past, and You will do it again. Please speak to them in the unique way that You created them to hear Your voice. May they encounter You in intimate and startling ways as You reveal their next steps and show them how to proceed. Remind them that You are the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. You see their entire journey laid out before You. You know the way.
I pray this beloved one will trust You, will believe that they hear You calling them forward, and will respond with belief that You are for them. Thank you for filling them with confidence and purpose. Thank you for guiding them along the life-road You created for them.
In Your beautiful name, Jesus,
Amen
Isaiah 30:21 NIV “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
Photo credit: James Wheeler
Let your shoulders drop, your jaw unclench, your heart breathe, and lean into Jesus. He’s got you. He knows what’s ahead of you today. He knows how it will all turn out.
He says that His presence will go with you wherever your path leads you. He will give you rest, He will hold you up, and He will speak heavenly, healing things to your mind, body, and spirit.
Photo credit: Kate
The gentleness of God is so beautiful. Imagining God bending down, His face level with mine, listening intently to my prayers, His heavenly breath wrapping me up —so safe, so loved, so cherished.
Whatever you need from Him this morning, He is listening. He’s right here. Speak His name, whisper it if you need to. He hears you. He loves you.
Extravagant Hope 