1:30 am – wide awake. Have you ever opened your eyes and felt wide awake in the middle of the night? Not restless insomnia; just awake. I’m leaving early this morning to walk with a good friend, so I knew I had to get back to sleep but here are some thoughts that lulled me back to sleep. Naturally, my mind did a mental calculation on time zones and I prayed for Tyler, in California who was probably just then going to sleep. And I prayed for his best friend Rian who must miss him terribly. I prayed for Tyler’s mom, Michelle ….the pattern of connections brought many treasured friends into my mind, through my heart in prayer to God. Prayer is the original social media.
Connecting . . .
When I woke up this morning, I immediately went to my notebook and Bible to look up these verses that kept streaming through my mind. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” Isaiah 40:13 – a very special friend lost her daughter recently and a friend at work lost her dad unexpectedly. “Comfort, comfort my people.”
Isaiah 30:18 “the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Are you waiting for God to provide for you? Are you waiting to make a decision because you don’t want to get ahead of God? “Blessed are all who wait for him.” I have sometimes felt like I’m in over my head, beyond my capabilities, and far outside my comfort zone. I have a friend whose voice echoes back to me on to occasions. God won’t bring you to it, if He won’t bring you through it. Catchy right? Also found in scripture at 1Thessalonians 5:24 “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
In fact, sometimes I know I’m in over my head and Psalm 121:2-4 reminds me “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Do you ever think about that? It might not be your foot that’s slipping. I know it’s not just my foot slipping that buries me in detail and the clutter of over commitment. It’s a lot of things slipping off track. In times like those, getting back on track is only possible with prayer, a plan, and a boatload of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says it pretty well “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Are you seeking peace and contentment today? You can overcome the impossible. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
Because of Grace we Press On