“Never be afraid - I am with you! I will protect you. I am your God." ~ Isaiah
41:10
There’s nothing like an old flame
pressing back into your life and asking “How’ve you held up?”
“Me? Held up? Well . . .” Jordan stammered. She couldn’t recall what she said next, but
she remembered how she felt: SAD!
‘Sad’ sounds so childish, like something one should be able
to cast off with a happy reflection or the smile of a friend. But ‘sadness’ is real. It sits inside like the germ seed of
depression, just waiting for the right conditions to grow, to send out roots to
choke the hope from your heart.
She’d based everything in her life on fear of something bad
happening. Despite her tough exterior,
she was paper thin inside. Taking risks
terrified her.
Slowly but steadily, that’s exactly what she did.
Jordan started talking to God – out loud. It seemed weird at first, sharing her fears,
asking forgiveness, thanking Him for the good things already in her life.
Prayer began to change her.
She started feeling a quiet inside.
It changed her thoughts. The
meditation deepened their connection.
Over time her mind became clearer, more resolute. Just as burgeoning sunlight promises a new
dawn, God helped ease the pain of distant memories and steeled her to think of a
more positive future; one that she would mold, build, direct.
Jordan felt more in charge, in command of her own mind, body
and soul. She was a woman walking into
her own destiny, yet a destiny that lay squarely in His hands.
Today she’s alive again.
Her job seems more fulfilling. Favorite
oldies make her smile again. She likes
to dress up for parties. Her prayers
work better when she says them near the lake.
She loves being near water. She likes
the way it flows. It’s alive. It’s free. It’s beautiful. And now God’s helped her realize that she is
too.
As we journey through life, there’ll inevitably be periods
of incredible frustration and despair.
During those tough times, it will sometimes appear to us that we’ve lost
everything, and that nothing and nobody could possibly motivate us to move
onward in the direction of our dreams.
God always has something for you – a key for every problem,
light for every shadow, comfort for every sorrow, a plan for every tomorrow and
human support that comes in many forms.
It can be a simple email or text message from someone we respect,
inspiring blog posts, insightful books, helpful neighbors, and so much more.
Almighty Father, I’ll try this day to live a
simple, sincere and peaceful life, resisting every thought of
anxiety, discouragement, impurity, discontent and self-indulgence. In its place I’ll cultivate cheerfulness, fairness,
charity and a childlike faith in You. Amen
