Planning on It

Does it seem to you, my fellow caregivers, that other things in life weigh a bit more than they should? It's like we carry so much that the smallest concern weighs us down even more. We often experience living grief, and the losses seem to add up and weigh more as we go along. Even the smallest loss can send us off on an emotional journey we didn't bargain for. I don't know, maybe it's just me?!?

We can be joyful, thankful, grateful, and find ways to manage and hopefully minimize caregiver stress, but it's still heavy sometimes. This is especially real for those who walk this caregiving journey alone. 

Over the weekend, I read and reread Psalm 25. As I tried to unpack it all, I found there is really a lot going on in this psalm. David, the writer, is reconfirming and declaring that he will continue to trust the Lord no matter what the battle looks like, feels like, or what life throws at him. This prayerful psalm is a request for mercy. For deliverance. For God's instruction, guidance, and direction. David says several times that he is going to wait on the Lord. 

But where I camped was verses 16 to 18. The last part of verse 16 says, I am desolate and afflicted. I looked those two terms up in the Hebrew using my Strong's concordance app. It could just as easily have been translated, I am alone and depressed. David is pouring out his suffering heart onto the papyrus pages. 

In the next verse, David talks about how the troubles of his heart have grown, and He asks the Lord, Deliver me from my distresses. Notice that he says distresses, plural. It sure seems like there was a lot going on in this warrior's mind and world when he sat down to write this psalm!

This whole psalm was very relatable to me. It's not contradictory to admit our heavy loads while declaring our trust in Him, even if we don't feel like it. David is so free with his emotions before God, yet it doesn't make it all go away. But even in the midst of the heaviness he is feeling, he continues to remind himself to wait on God and trust Him. That's where we are at, right? Even if nothing changes - we will wait on Him and continue to trust Him.

Today, I'll remind myself that waiting on God is worth it, even during the hardest struggles life can create. My thoughts will be on how He is in this messy life with me, and He will rescue and protect my soul. I can (and will) trust Him with today. Will you join me?

 Peace Out! It's in the Bible is a 31-day devotional that is focused on letting God's peace reign in our hearts - no matter what. You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and kindle versions are available in my Amazon Shop.