The past 3 weeks have been some of the hardest we’ve faced as a family; we’ve had influenza, covid and a terrible cough – no breaks in between, each of us sick after the other. Josh had a lot of time off work. Ezekiel has been unwell, too, and we’ve been cooped up inside. How did I cope? I recited scripture, continued to scrub my counters and clean the floors, made meals, hugged Ezekiel, read him books and did my best to ‘stay afloat’; but yesterday felt like breaking point – there’s only so much you can keep up with in your own strength.
On a surface level, my mind and heart responds with: Chase the light, take a deep breath, be courageous, allow yourself to slow down. Watch the buds blossom on the trees – this process is never overnight; it is months of rain, sun, wind and darkness. Wait for the Lord; be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord. But oh! this is far easier said than done.
I thought, how do mother’s do it ALL in times of tremendous difficulty? They don’t. They depend on the Lord. What do you do when you feel like you’re caving in?
Remain in God’s Word, rest, eat well: If I don’t do these things, that’s when things go really wrong; when I forget to feed my soul with God’s word and worship God above all, my life caves in. He desires relationship with us, and there’s a free invitation to draw near, in every moment.
Here in this moment is the whisper of His voice: accept His love. He will defend you. I thought of Jesus today, when he raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead; give her something to eat was the first thing he said after the miracle. Sort out the practical matters, too – be well fed. Jesus rested, too. In the midst of a whirling storm, he napped at the bottom of the boat. Just rest. Draw near to God. This hard season will end, and you will be closer to God and have more perseverance as a result. And maybe that’s all part of the miracle – the mundane woven into the miracle, the bread of life, the sustenance of Christ; rest, receive, pour out your heart before Him.
Do you ever forget to receive the miracles that explode on your lap, in your heart, in your surroundings? How often are we blind to the beauty of life and to His help? Help us receive your miracles, Lord – to sit under beneath rivers of living waters, your presence. The depth of sleep and rest, and the healing it provides. Nourishing food. The night sky. The sound of clean running water. The breath in our lungs. The gift of a new day. Open the eyes of my heart Lord. Do you ever forget the miracles exploding in your lap? Open the eyes of our heart Lord.
Praying for joy and purpose over you today, and that you may receive the miracles God has placed in your life!
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