The past paralyzes, and the future is unknown.
My calendar captures future events as my “to-do” list increases with things I should have done yesterday. In the meantime, social media drags me down in the game of “what if”: The world will come to an end if democrats win, and the world will go to hell if the republicans stay.
As I sit here writing these words, I choose to live in the present as I move to the Secret Place— behind closed doors to say a short prayer.
Lord, I need you now; I need you to breathe confidence into my soul and assurance that you are in control. I need to take heart and trust in you.
As I seek solace in God’s Word, my eyes pass over John 16:33, my trembling fingers touch the words and they soothe my troubled soul:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
The world is living under the shadow of COVID19—it is not a trouble-free world. Death is on the doorstep and the numbers announced every evening on the news. It is a sad story of time lost, and with every death their stories die with them. Fear rises on the earth like dark clouds, and we are more aware of trouble upon trouble upon trouble.
Lord, help me take heart in the here and now with you. There is nothing in my past you didn’t know, and in the future you’ve already planned for me.
Today, at this very hour, I will choose to breathe the breath of God and trust in the Overcomer.
My times are in his hands.
But Take Heart!
It’s not a trouble-free world
Wishful thinking couldn’t make it so
Trouble knocks on every door
Who holds back its bruising blow?
Where does our strength come from?
Trouble troubles the soul
A soldier arms herself for battle
To do otherwise is suicide
The offender still attacks
With or without our armor
Trouble is offensive
Purposed to cause harm
Is there more to it than meets the eye?
Abraham was troubled without a son.
Joseph troubled in slavery
Moses troubled in Egypt
Joshua troubled by the enemy in his camp
Job had his troubles.
Jesus faced troubles too
Troubled at the death of Lazarus
Storms on the Sea of Galilee
On the cross
Victory belongs to the Lord!
God makes himself known
Amid our trouble
He provided Abraham the promised son
Set the captive Joseph free
Showed Moses the parting Red Sea
For Job, the answer
Was God in the whirlwind
We, in the here and now,
Live it to the fullest because
God is our victory
Trouble’s shadow may belong
But God’s shadow is longer still
He is the Resurrection and the Life
The truth.
Trouble is a tool in his hand
Strength for his people
He removes the hard places
God keeps us trusting him
The yielded heart sees
The yielded heart knows
Moving to the rhythm of the Lord
We find peace in the storm
The Deliverer delivers
The Helper is here to help
The Protector protects
The Overcomer to overcome
It’s not a trouble-free world
Trouble knocks on every door.
But take heart, my dear sister
Our God reigns!
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7 NIV)
It’s true. We live in a troubled world. But as children of God, let us go to the Secret Place for solace. Jesus is our Victor—our Overcomer.
Our times, including the here and now, are in his hand.
Take heart. Take heart. Takehearttakehearttakeheart.
His heart.
Yesyesyes.
Thank you, Christine. This post fortified me.
You’re welcome, Cheryl. I couldn’t help but pour these words out for they encouraged me so much. I am honored that Redbud felt the same way. Poetry is interesting – when you write then your emotions come to the surface and the truth cannot be denied. I’m so happy this post fortified you. You too are a blessing.