Be strong...Be Courageous…
But what does that look like? When nothing is happening the way you thought it should. When things seem to be falling to pieces. When the world seems to stop. What does it look like?
Sometimes, strong looks like gathering the pieces of you on your toughest days and giving them to God. Sometimes strong looks like saying “No” when you have absolutely too much on your plate.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
I don’t know about anyone else but this era of COVID and quarantining has at times, gotten the best of me! My best friend and I have this running joke when we aren't able to sleep or maybe feeling a little overwhelmed.
Her: Hey what a
re you up to?
Me: Oh you know...just sitting here questioning all of my life choices!
Well, this quarantine has really has me reflecting over my life and all of the choices I have made to this point.
Are all of my priorities right? Am I spending enough time with the people I love the most? Am I taking adequate care of myself? Did this or that get done? Are me and God straight? Like legit straight?
Some days, these thoughts drown out anything I do! I get overwhelmed with the emotion of not having it all figured out. Preoccupying my thinking so it doesn't exhaust me.
So how does one find beauty in a time like this?
The beauty that showed itself to me was the learning to “cast my cares”
You see, when life is filled with going here and there, we really don’t give ourselves time to catch up and reflect. So what happens when life stops? When it’s just you and your thoughts? How do you navigate through the things you have tried to avoid for so long? How do we cope in the solace? Do we drown in a sea of hopeless and feelings of exhaustion? Some of US are just keeping our heads above water. Mentally, physically, emotionally and s
piritually. In this time, some of us have questioned God probably more that we pray, that is...if we are talking to him at all.
A song that came to mind goes like this,
“I was sinking deep in sin
Far from the peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within
Sinking to rise no more
But the Master o
f the sea
Heard my despairing cry
From the waters lifted me
Now s
afe am I
Love lifted me
Love lifted me
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me”
Written in 1912 by James Rowe
When we feel like we are sinking in this sea of life, we can rest knowing that we are safe in the arms of the Father. His love keeps us from sinking. His grace surrounds us daily. He really does care for us.
casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 1 Peter 5:7
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