“Lord, I know Your mercies are new every morning,” I thought while creeping down the stairs in my exercise attire, “Help my eyes to see those mercies today.” My heart knew those words are true. My mind fought to see evidence of such.
Have you too, struggled to remain positive, even thankful during this time?
I remind myself daily how things could be so much worse, how thankful I should be for what I still have: my job, my family is still safe, and I do know God as a loving Father. I know He’s holding me in the palm of His hand.
Yet, the struggle is oh, so real, and that in itself frustrates me.
Do you too, tire of waking up to this again?
Masks, social distancing, telling my daughters “no” to yet another social event.
Too many people. Too little fresh air. Too many concerns weighing our hearts. Lord, when will this stop? When will things ever get back to normal?
I took my morning coffee to my favorite chair and opened to my favorite book in Scripture: Philippians. Chapter four is almost committed to memory, yet my eyes read it with new meaning: “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: rejoice! (Verse 4)
My eyes land on the next underlined passage, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses your every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (6-7)
Ah, peace. That elusive gift from the Spirit, at least right now.
Yet years of trusting God, living with Him, and seeing His faithfulness have taught me He’s there. He’s working, even when I don’t see it, or can’t feel it.
Especially when I can’t see it and can’t feel it.
I know how to get through the day: pray and obey.
Pray, and give it all over to Him. Lay it at His feet. Trust Him with today. He’s got this.
My eyes catch another box outlines in ink: “Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. (verse 9).
A smile tugs at my mouth and works into the corners of my heart. I know that verse to be true. God rewards obedience.
I have seen that over and over in my life. (I have also witnessed how He will discipline disobedience!)
My job isn’t to figure out how to solve the situation we are in. My job is to obey His commands.
Rejoice. (v 4)
Act graciously. (v 5)
Don’t worry, (v 6)
Pray about everything with thanksgiving. (v 6)
Think positively. (v 8)
Obey God. (v 9)
Receive His peace. (v 9)
I decided to write that list on a post-it note, affixing it to my mirror. I need this reminder! Maybe you do too. (Feel free to print the list here: )
Maybe your heart is feeling a bit beaten, bruised and burdened too. Maybe you know God is faithful, but also need a reminder: God is our loving Daddy, waiting to take us into His protective arms. He knows what He is doing, even when we can’t fathom it.
Will you join me in a prayer of surrender to Him?
Dear Lord, You know what burdens me today. You capture my falling tears, just as You promise, holding them in Your hand. You are faithful. Please remind me of Your faithfulness, recalling Scripture and even my own experiences. Help me to do what You are calling: to simply trust and obey. You are God, and You are in control. Help me remember that. Thank You for Your care and protection. Thank You for supplying my needs, even the need to remember what my to-do list is during this time. Thank You Lord, that my list ends with receiving Your peace! In Jesus’ name, Amen.