As I hung up the phone, I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry. You see, the week HAD NOT gone as planned. Have you ever had one of those? We were fighting again with our window company about a bad installation job. Our stove delivery got delayed a third time making it now two months late. We were still figuring out our new school routine. And if that wasn’t enough, Friday hit.
A friend and I had met and talked at great lengths how we were going to help each other out with our triple booked Saturday. We each had a daughter playing in a volleyball tournament across town. Our other daughters had volleyball practice back in our area. Then we had to figure out how to care for our elementary sons who were not allowed to attend the volleyball tournament due to COVID regulations. We figured out a perfect, intricate, detailed plan. Feeling accomplished, I went out with friends to enjoy a fun evening of painting.
NOT in Control
While figuring out how to make my blotches of paint look like wildflowers, my phone blew up with text messages and emails. A team had dropped out of the tournament and now there was a new schedule for the day. This new schedule ruined our already complicated plan for the day. After I finished up my painting, I texted my friend. We decided to just go to the tournament tomorrow and figure out our plan there. We pow-wowed before the game and got plan B in place. Halfway through the first game we experienced yet another hiccup. The lights went out! At first we thought someone had accidentally hit the switch. But we soon realized that it was a power outage affecting several city blocks. It was unknown what happened, and more importantly, unknown when the lights were going to be back on. So we waited.
I then left the dark gym to go take our oldest daughters to practice. I decided to move to plan C and came home to hang out with the boys. As I started to feed the boys lunch, I got the phone call. When I answered, my oldest was on the other side of the line. Practice was done an hour early and she needed me to come pick her up. Due to a series of events, the ball closet key didn’t make it to practice. (Come to find out it is pretty hard to have volleyball practice with no net and no balls!) I didn’t know whether to laugh at the fact that NOT ONE thing had gone as planned that day. Or to cry at yet another realization that I am definitely not in control.
Focus on God
I don’t know what your COVID season has been like. But I am going to guess that you have had things happen that have been out of your control. A person can handle some bumps in the road. But when these disruptions appear to be constant and endless, it can be defeating to your soul. It is in these moments that we need to FOCUS ON GOD. Remember this is the F of F.L.E.X that we talked about last time. (If you didn’t see our post on flexibility-click here to go back and read it!)
It is crucial we remind ourselves of the only guaranteed constant: GOD NEVER CHANGES! He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is completely trustworthy. In this season of constant change we need to hold on to the one thing that doesn’t change.
There are so many promises in His Word that we can focus on during seasons of trial and unknown. One of my favorites is Psalm 34:17-19
“The LORD hears His people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue EACH TIME.”
Encouragement
The Bible is full of examples of people going through a hard time and God coming to their rescue. Read through this sampling and see if you need to hear any of these today.
- Are you in a Hagar season? God sees your pain and hears your cries! (Genesis 16)
- Are you in a Esther season and need to do something outside your comfort zone? If so, you might need to be reminded that God made you for this moment! (Book of Esther)
- Maybe you are in a season of everything being taken away and you need God to redeem you like Ruth. (Book of Ruth)
- Do you find yourself in a season of great loss? Maybe you are like Martha and need to be told you will rise again. Or like Mary, you just need someone to weep with you. (John 11)
- Perhaps you need to reach out and grab what is already yours like the woman with the issue of blood. You need to hear Jesus say, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:18-22)
- Maybe you are caught in the middle of a mess you have made like the woman caught in adultery. And you need Christ to look at you and say, “I do not condemn you. Now go and sin no more.” (Matthew 8:1-11)
- Perhaps you are stuck in the guilt and shame from the decisions you have made in the past. Like the sinful woman in Scripture you need to release them to Jesus and hear Him say, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, now go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)
I don’t know what you need to hear, but God does. Talk with Him. Allow Him to speak into your life. Focus on the truths in His Word. These promises are for you.
Holding on to Christ
This song Holding On to You by Carrollton ministered to my heart as I was processing through the events of the week. These lines really stuck out to me.
When I can’t catch my breath
And there’s nothing let to hold on to
I’m holding on to You
Lord, I’m holding on to You
Promises for YOU!
I will leave you with 4 more promises you can hold on to no matter what season you are in.
- God will never leave you! Hebrews 13:5b
- God will give you wisdom! Proverbs 2:6
- God will give you peace! John 14:27
- You can do anything with Christ! Philippians 4:13
What is the promise of God that you are currently holding on to? Focus on it. Post it around your home. Share in the comments…maybe someone else needs that promise today!
