The Long and the Short of It

 Some days feel so long like they are never going to end. The only short days are those rare occasions when I used to get out for a hike (been about a year now...). Those days fly by. Most days feel rather long, and I can easily feel like I come up short at the end of the day. Many nights, I fall into bed and fight thoughts of failure over all I did not get done during the day. The good thing is that I have learned to turn those negative thoughts around. When they start trying to creep into my thought processes, I run through a quick list of what I did get done that day. The battlefield is truly in the mind, and we are standing alone as the front line of defense.

I try to think of scriptures as an available arsenal for when the enemy attacks. Over the years, I've learned to grab scriptures to stand on from time to time, and there are a few that I find myself going back to over and over again. You see them float through the pages of this blog from time to time. Scriptures like Psalm 26:3 (I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Me.), Psalm 46:1 (God is a present help in the time of trouble), and Psalm 46:10 (Be still...and know I am God) become anchors for our souls.

This morning, I almost started to feel guilty for cycling back around to Isaiah 40:31. Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. Why should I feel guilty for reminding myself to wait on the Lord? Again? And Again. And Again? Waiting on Him demonstrates the highest level of trust, especially in volatile circumstances that can change on a dime. Waiting on Him is the connection to letting His peace reign in our hearts.

The good thing is that He didn't put any stipulations on waiting. He didn't tell me I had used up all my waiting tokens for the month. He didn't tell me His patience had run out, and He didn't know what to do either! Lol. It sounds funny to actually say (or type) it, but don't our emotions tell us that sometimes? If we need to wait on Him every single day, so what? It's like He is right there waiting on us to wait on Him. For when we realize our need for Him, it gives room for Him to pour in His peace.

Today, I will remind myself that His patience did not run out last night. My meditations will be on how He remains a present help - in our present time, circumstances, and situations - in times of need. And He just keeps on being there! I'll turn my thoughts away from my weaknesses and to His strengths. Because my weaknesses just open up the opportunity for Him to shine through! I believe I can trust Him for one more day - will you join me?

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Are you enjoying the Caregiver Affirmations and Videos?

I have created a video series on my  YouTube channel. It goes over the affirmation each morning. The videos are only a couple of minutes long, and the first one was downloaded this morning! You can get the Affirmations for Caregivers book in several places. You can download it and have the eBook right now from my bookstore. It's also now available on Kindle or in print from Amazon. 

There is a video for each affirmation. Here is today's video.