Lonely-hood....
Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.
Early this morning, too early for humans to be awake, I came across the scripture above. I sat there and read it again and again.
My weary eyes filled with hot tears.
I know what David speaks of when he wrote this Psalm. I know the wait. I know the cries.
I also know the feeling of being lifted up out of a dark pit, out of pure slime and mud.
I know the feeling of being placed back on firm soil. So firm, that although my feet were still shaking, the ground would not give way.
I know the new song He puts in our mouths.
Oh, David. Your words washed over me like a healing balm this morning.
This reminder....that He will lift us up and out of that dark pit.
He will rescue us.
He will hear us.
Overwhelmed with gratitude of His faithfulness this morning, I thanked Him over and over for this verse. For the reminder that firm ground is coming. A new song is awaiting for me to sing.
The picture image of this verse saturates my mind. I see someone being lifted out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Is there darkness around you?
Do you feel alone?
I think one of the loneliest places to be at times is motherhood.
So often, I feel like I have to carry a burden on my shoulders. I have to bear the load alone. Whether it being an issue with one of my children, or a regret, or just the overwhelming feeling that I am getting it all wrong.
Even if my husband bears the burden as well, I tend to take it right back on my much smaller shoulders and carry it like a large heavy medal that nobody wants to win.
The enemy whispers in my ears, "keep this struggle hidden. you will be judged, condemned, mocked if you share the burden with others. you cannot trust anyone to understand or help. just keep carrying this burden and deal with it."
Last year my daughter was struggling. She finally, after weeks of trying to manage the situation herself, came to be and spilled out her heart.
I could not believe she had not come to me earlier.
But, sadly I knew why....because I do the same at times.
I keep a struggle hidden. Hidden in the darkness of my mind and heart. Where shadows lurk and reason goes out the window.
An hour after my daughter spilled out her heart, she came to me and said, "I feel lighter. I am so glad I talked this out with you."
You see, the enemy wants us to bury our burdens, and carry them alone. He wants to isolate us from others and torment us into a place of hidden misery. A place of shame and blame. He is a liar.
He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
However, when we bring our burden to the light....healing begins.
When we share our story with another and ask for prayer, the burden suddenly is divided in half. We have someone else to pray for us, to encourage us, to love us.
Don't believe the lie of isolation the enemy wants you to believe.
Jesus was never isolated. He surrounded Himself with men to help Him, to go with Him, to teach with Him, to heal with Him.
He could have done it all alone. Every bit of it.
But, He chose not to.
He chose to use people to be with. To talk to. To pray with. To share with. To grieve with. To laugh with.
We were meant for community. We were meant to bear each other's burdens.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Motherhood doesn't have to be lonely and isolated.
We need other people. We need another's ears to hear us, we need another's hands to help us at times., we need another prayer on our behalf.
Whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed....surround yourself with women you trust. Women that you know will pray for you, encourage you, and not throw stones at you.
Pray for God to bring these women into your life.
And...be that kind of friend to someone. Be willing to stop, listen, and pray with someone.
God is always ready to deliver us, but we must be willing to ask for help.
God uses people. He just does. All throughout the bible...God uses people to fulfill His plan.
Lighten your load today. Reach out. Share your heart. Take the first step to healing.
Your new song is waiting.
lightening my load,
jill
Early this morning, too early for humans to be awake, I came across the scripture above. I sat there and read it again and again.
My weary eyes filled with hot tears.
I know what David speaks of when he wrote this Psalm. I know the wait. I know the cries.
I also know the feeling of being lifted up out of a dark pit, out of pure slime and mud.
I know the feeling of being placed back on firm soil. So firm, that although my feet were still shaking, the ground would not give way.
I know the new song He puts in our mouths.
Oh, David. Your words washed over me like a healing balm this morning.
This reminder....that He will lift us up and out of that dark pit.
He will rescue us.
He will hear us.
Overwhelmed with gratitude of His faithfulness this morning, I thanked Him over and over for this verse. For the reminder that firm ground is coming. A new song is awaiting for me to sing.
The picture image of this verse saturates my mind. I see someone being lifted out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Is there darkness around you?
Do you feel alone?
I think one of the loneliest places to be at times is motherhood.
So often, I feel like I have to carry a burden on my shoulders. I have to bear the load alone. Whether it being an issue with one of my children, or a regret, or just the overwhelming feeling that I am getting it all wrong.
Even if my husband bears the burden as well, I tend to take it right back on my much smaller shoulders and carry it like a large heavy medal that nobody wants to win.
The enemy whispers in my ears, "keep this struggle hidden. you will be judged, condemned, mocked if you share the burden with others. you cannot trust anyone to understand or help. just keep carrying this burden and deal with it."
Last year my daughter was struggling. She finally, after weeks of trying to manage the situation herself, came to be and spilled out her heart.
I could not believe she had not come to me earlier.
But, sadly I knew why....because I do the same at times.
I keep a struggle hidden. Hidden in the darkness of my mind and heart. Where shadows lurk and reason goes out the window.
An hour after my daughter spilled out her heart, she came to me and said, "I feel lighter. I am so glad I talked this out with you."
You see, the enemy wants us to bury our burdens, and carry them alone. He wants to isolate us from others and torment us into a place of hidden misery. A place of shame and blame. He is a liar.
He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
However, when we bring our burden to the light....healing begins.
When we share our story with another and ask for prayer, the burden suddenly is divided in half. We have someone else to pray for us, to encourage us, to love us.
Don't believe the lie of isolation the enemy wants you to believe.
Jesus was never isolated. He surrounded Himself with men to help Him, to go with Him, to teach with Him, to heal with Him.
He could have done it all alone. Every bit of it.
But, He chose not to.
He chose to use people to be with. To talk to. To pray with. To share with. To grieve with. To laugh with.
We were meant for community. We were meant to bear each other's burdens.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Motherhood doesn't have to be lonely and isolated.
We need other people. We need another's ears to hear us, we need another's hands to help us at times., we need another prayer on our behalf.
Whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed....surround yourself with women you trust. Women that you know will pray for you, encourage you, and not throw stones at you.
Pray for God to bring these women into your life.
And...be that kind of friend to someone. Be willing to stop, listen, and pray with someone.
God is always ready to deliver us, but we must be willing to ask for help.
God uses people. He just does. All throughout the bible...God uses people to fulfill His plan.
Lighten your load today. Reach out. Share your heart. Take the first step to healing.
Your new song is waiting.
lightening my load,
jill
