I’m feeling the stress of the season when I want to feel joy.
Stress is exhausting. Feeling anxious wears you down.
I want to focus on the happiness of Christmas.
So, I’m praying …. A LOT!
And believe it or not God is showing up. When we’re paying attention, we’ll see Him through others, and through Scripture that appears in front of us. Okay, for me, it was Scripture that was shoved in front of my face… unavoidable… and real.
Recently, all I could think about was the verse from Matthew. It says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
That sent me down the rabbit hole (a very good rabbit hole) of finding other verses that talk about rest.
Here’s some of what I found:
Jeremiah 31:25 (NLT)
For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.
Psalm 62:1-2 (CSB)
I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
As I continued reading, other words popped out at me. Words like refresh, replenish, rock, stronghold, and care. Do you see?
Gradually, as I prayed, and studied, and kept putting one foot in front of the other, I gained strength, and I began to reach for joy. To find the positives.
There are seasons in our life that are difficult to manage. Times when we’re on the ground, defeated, angry, and hopeless.
It’s not easy to navigate tough times. It’s even harder during what is supposed to be a season of joy.
All I can say is, keep praying. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and do your best to move forward, even if you’re dragging and weighed down. Put those troubles at the feet of Jesus and find that comfort. Soon, you will feel replenished, refreshed, and standing on a stable foundation. Light will come and shine through. Believe that it will. After all, this is the season for believing.
Do you have any Scripture or advice that helps you move through troubling times? Please share.
Let’s encourage one another.
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