Hi everyone! Thank you so much for joining me again this week
The last three weeks, my family has been going through some difficult times and it would be overwhelming; if I let it be. I have been on this “beyond the fallout” journey for the last eleven years. It takes time for healing to happen and for each person in the family it has happened at different times and in different circumstances. The past can affect us in so many ways and we don’t even realize it until we are triggered. At least, that’s how it has been for our family.
So, as I felt the stress these past three weeks and those overwhelming feelings, God brought the words to my mind…Be in the moment.
It’s so easy to feel distracted, to let life’s worries control my feelings and actions. It feels like I need to do something to fix it or help, when sometimes there is nothing I can do and no easy fixes. So, this week I had to practice surrendering my situation, my heart’s cry and my will to God. In the middle of the chaos of what we are going through, the most important thing is to seek Him first. For all of the things we cannot control, we need to trust in God’s love for us and in His redemption.
Matthew 6:33-34 says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
In reflection of this, I set my heart on seeking God and finding peace in it all. What God brought to my mind was the story of Martha and Mary. Martha opened her home to Jesus. She got distracted during his visit, doing all the preparations, and became frustrated with her sister Mary, who wasn’t helping her. She came up to him and said “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:40
His response to her was, “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:41,42 (NIV)
The words really struck something inside of me…only one thing is needed. Being in his presence. Finding that space and time to just be in the moment. Letting the stress, the distractions, and everything just fall at his feet and just be. I am so guilty of avoidance when my stress tolerance gets high. When I am overwhelmed by all the things I can’t control; I watch tv, scroll facebook, and find so many other ways to not think. I felt God calling me to be like Mary and just “be.” Be in the moment, trust Him with my whole heart, and with my family. I found peace there. I also saw God work in amazing ways at just the right time. I could not have planned my life better.
God gave me a song for this very moment and I’m going to try recording it, just at home. I would like to share it for the next blog. So stay tuned…
I want to encourage you to seek His presence this week. Be in the moment, be present with God, and find peace. No matter what storms surround you, find His peace and trust Him with all of your heart.
Please share this encouragement with those you know are struggling and let’s spread the news that God is a loving God, who cares about us deeply, and can bring us hope and be our peace.