Unraveled!

 

Between a pulled muscle in my back, project deadlines at work, and everything else going on in my heart and mind; last week was one that I wouldn’t mind forgetting. Somewhere at the outset of starting this site I mentioned that I don’t write these devotions unless God inspires me. I would like to mention this again because I’m in a place right now where I’m caught between the despair of needing God to move in my life in some big ways and a truly deafening and discouraging silence. I wonder how many of us have been in this place before? How many of us have been at our wits end, the end of our rope, or what best describes it for me right now “unraveled”?

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

    but God remains the strength of my heart;

    he is mine forever.” Psalm 73:26 NLT

I feel like my thoughts and emotions are going to rip me apart sometimes but, underneath it all I grip tightly to my faith. Even when my humanity cries out that God doesn’t care, even when I feel like I could drown in my tears, even when it seems as if things will never get any better… I have to hold on to my faith.

What speaks best as an antidote to these feelings and destructive thoughts in this time? PEACE!!!

 

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

 

“The Lord will give strength to His people;

The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33a

 

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

 

Even still, sometimes words on a page just aren’t enough! Sometimes we need God’s hand to work mightily on our behalf and for Him to show His majesty and glory in our lives. What do we do when it seems that all is silent, still, and nothing is happening? What do we do when even decades have passed without seeing any change?

We need to do the only thing that we can do. We need to surrender ourselves once again and give it all to the God who created us, saved us, and who is the only one who has the power to change our situations.

 

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” 1 Peter 5:7

 

Sovereign Father God, I am undone, unraveled, and broken before You. Everything that I have is Yours and my life is not my own. You created me and I belong wholly and completely to you. I am waiting on Your provision, I am waiting on Your intervention, and I am waiting on Your mighty and wondrous hand. Please hear my cries and move favorably on my behalf. Remember the promises that You have personally made to me through the years. Turn my mourning into dancing and my sorrow into joy. Father, I cry out to You in intercession for my brothers and sisters as well. Please show Your Fatherly love, mercy, and grace in our lives. Push back the darkness that surrounds us and stay the hand of the evil one on our behalves. Lord, bless us and keep us. Shine Your glorious face upon us, and be gracious to us. God of hope, lift up Your countenance upon us, show us Your favor, give us Your peace, and fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit. I pray these things in the name of Christ Jesus my Savior and Lord; AMEN!

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16