Have you ever been in a season that felt equally draining and difficult, mixed in with a little confusion? If your answer is “yes,” I’m right there with you! In fact, it’s the current season I’m walking through.
It’s one of those seasons that feels exhausting and troubling, yet you can’t place an exact reason or figure out the stem of the emotions you’re experiencing. You just know you’re going through it.
As a wise man (ahem, my husband) once told me, “The enemy attacks those he’s most threatened by.” I believe this is so true, and we know that as believers we will walk through battles often. Especially battles with our enemy who is disturbed by our salvation and security in Christ.
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
While we may know this is true and that we have a great and mighty God fighting on our behalves, we are also human and can feel depleted by the world around us. Just yesterday, I experienced my breaking point, and God very clearly told me to “just let it go.” The tears flowed, I dropped to my knees, and my heart poured out everything to God that I had been suppressing beneath the surface. The sweet relief that followed only came from releasing my burdens to God. Friend, sometimes you have to fall to your knees and give your burdens to Him as well.
Don’t Bottle It Up
Life is stressful because we live in a broken world with paces and appearances that are impossible to keep up with. We’re stretched thin because we tend to believe the lies that tell us to keep up and keep our worth. It’s easy to tie our self-worth to what we’re doing or not doing. The enemy loves us in these positions, because we’re vulnerable and easily tricked into wrong thinking.
Instead, we have to come to terms that we are imperfect people but made in the image of our very perfect Father. We will never measure up to the false standards the world tells us to meet, but we’re already accepted and more than enough to our Creator.
When life feels heavy and those lies start creeping into our minds, we must release them over to God. Replace the lies with the truth we know and can trust in. Don’t bottle it up in shame, guilt, and confusion, hoping to bury it far enough that it will disappear. I can tell you firsthand that shoving it down only makes it pop back up to the surface with even greater force. The minute the lies and self-doubt bubble up, call it out and release it over to the Lord.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7
Pretending Isn’t Prospering
I will reluctantly admit that I am the queen of putting on a false sense of joy and “put-togetherness.” My mind has been tricked for so long into thinking that I’m somehow failing if I don’t have everything together. Let me tell you, no one has it all together. NO ONE. If we know we are imperfect beings, then how can we expect to actually have it all figured out perfectly? No one is actually fooled by us presenting an air of perfection either. We relate with each other and find harmony together when we truly present our authentic, and yes, imperfect selves in every situation.
To truly prosper (definition: “grow strong and healthy”) we must be genuine in who we are created to be. Not just to others, but to ourselves as well. We can’t fool ourselves into thinking we can be just fine if we ignore or suppress the imperfections and struggles in our lives. We all need Jesus’ strength and wisdom and must turn to His Word for guidance each and every day.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Joshua 1:8
You Aren’t Weak, You’re Just In Need
The responsibilities of my job, my home, and my title as mom and wife, at times all pile up until I feel buried underneath the immense weight. I’ve just recently experienced this all too well, and it’s a hard thing to trudge through. It’s not about the actual titles we have or the day-to-day responsibilities we have to fulfill. It’s about the lack of truth we are reminding ourselves of.
I got to a breaking point because I hadn’t dealt with the internal issues I had going on, at least not in the appropriate way. Often I think I can handle my struggles on my own and eventually, it will all just work itself out. We all know that’s not how it actually happens. Those negative feelings and emotions just spiral out of control until we finally crack.
The beauty of the unfolding is when we turn to God and allow Him to piece us back together. It’s when we realize we don’t possess the ability to mend ourselves and need His saving grace and power alone. When I finally allowed myself to simply open my heart to Him and released every emotion and struggle I’d been keeping at bay, I finally found healing and hope.
Falling to our knees in prayer and crying out to God when we have no words for what we’re feeling, doesn’t make us weak. In fact, it’s in those moments that God strengthens us the most. It’s the falling at His feet in humility that shows us just how strong He is and how greatly we need Him.
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10