This morning, as I was preparing to go live on Facebook for Peace Out devotions, I found this really cool scripture in Isaiah 51. In verse 21, the prophet says, now listen to this, you afflicted ones, who sit in a drunken stupor, though not from drinking wine. (NLT) I was like, Wow! How many times on this caregiving journey have I felt just like that? I wouldn't even venture a guess. Usually, I describe it as those sit-drink-coffee-stare-at-the-wall moments.
Trauma itself can have that effect, as can the ongoing struggles of caregiving. It's easy to get overwhelmed and even underwhelmed, lol. I think we've all had those moments where we go numb. And we didn't use a glass of wine to get us there! :-) Overwhelming is often an understatement when it comes to caregiving. There are just those days when there are no words and no one to understand, even if we tried. Those days are often filled with heavy sighs, and they are perfect for learning to wait on God. But boy, are they uncomfortable!
To be fair, this passage is to a specific people at a specific time, and they were indeed afflicted. But if you look back up at verse 16, you'll see that the prophet reminded them that they were hidden in God's hands. He was carrying their hearts, their wounds, their struggles, and their situations in His capable hands. But He also had them hidden in His hand. I like the picture that comes up in my imagination. God's loving hand gently holding me and my soul back from sure destruction. I think that's how we live out each day, knowing He's got us come what may.
The final part of verse 16 says it all. He tells Israel, "You are mine." I think He whispers this same thing in our hearts today - we are His and there's no storm strong enough to rip us from His hands. We are secure in Him and His gentle reminder that He's got us is all we need to make it through another day.
Today, I'll meditate on how He holds me in His hand. (Singular hand, btw!) When things get rough or complicated, I'll remind myself that He is still holding me and that there is absolutely nothing in heaven or in earth that can make Him let go of my heart - even if I'm sitting in a drunken stupor with no wine involved. The storms can remove me. Strong winds can't sway me. Absolutely nothing can rip me from His grip of grace. So, I will be content to rest in His hand as He carries me through just one more day. Will you join me?
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Book of the Week!
1 John Study Guide
· What does it mean to be loved by God?
· What happens when God lives in us?
· Are you ready for a deep dive into God’s love?
· What does God really think about you?
· How is it possible to be a child of God?
Grab a copy of the 1 John Bible Study Guide! It’s like John
decided to write an expository letter about John 3:16. Oh, how He loves us!
Until we get that – we won’t get much else! Take a walk through this powerful,
life-changing epistle written to the early Christians.
Take the journey through these five chapters and learn more about your heart and God's heart. Find your own answers and new insights as you work through the series of thought-provoking questions that lead you to God's heart.
Kindle or Print: Amazon Bookshelf
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