A word for the weary today <3

Somewhere between the delayed and soggy end of spring and the hectic schedule of ball games, regular work and helping out others while they work, plus the unusual opportunities we have had to gather with our whole family several times…I have found very little time to care for our home, let alone do all the extras.

Life has come at us pretty fast and it is a bit like navigating the rapids in a kayak, which from the sound of it is pretty common for God’s people lately.

I could write a list a mile long of ways people have shared their broken hearts with me this past week.

 All kinds of ways they are being battered and are feeling defeated, alone, misunderstood, taken advantage of…hurt…wounded…tested.

People I love and care for who seem to be fighting to stay afloat in a rip tide with nothing but a pair of children’s water wings and if you are one of those today who is nodding your head in between waves crashing over you…then this is for you.

You are not alone. 

You are not abandoned or forgotten or unseen. 

Yes, the battle is fierce and yes, the fire is hot. 

Yes, it hurts and yes, it is hard. 

But the circumstances you are struggling in do not define you.

You are not your circumstances.

You are not what someone has said to you or about you. 

You are not what has been done to you. 

If you belong to Christ, you are a co-heir with Him. 

You are His brother or His sister. 

You are precious to Him. 

Your life was worth His life and you stand before God justified and righteous by His covering. 

You are who He says you are and He says you are His beloved.

One of my favorite passages for times like these is:

“When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won’t drown.

When you walk through fire, you won’t be burned or scorched by the flames.”

Isaiah 43:2 CEV

Do you understand what this is saying? 

You will be in deep water…but He is with you and you won’t drown.

You will feel the heat of flames licking around you, but they will not burn you. 

The rest of this passage gives assurance of how precious you are to Him and all that He would give for you. 

Take time to read the entire chapter and let the words wash gently over your weary head, heart and spirit.

In the midst of the voices that are attempting to keep you pushed down, I urge you today…listen only to the One Voice who knows you, loves you, made you, carries you and will save you <3