Totally Smashed!

 

Have you ever had one of those days it feels like life smashed you in the face? (Who am I talking to - of course you have!) Things can go crazy so quickly that they leave our heads spinning.We live on the proverbial edge of "insanity" - and we might move in if it wasn't for God's grace!

My thoughts started running down this lane when I read Psalm 118:11. David says, you pushed me violently that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. Life can push us hard sometimes. Many times, it can feel violent. Sometimes, becoming a caregiver or being thrust into it quickly with no advanced warning can be a violent shift in our lives.

With my aunt, I saw it coming because of the relatively slow decline. My son, on the other hand, came out of nowhere on a perfectly normal day. A wreck. A phone call. A flight with no return. And here we are. Life can push violently, and we've all experienced it on one level or another. It brings a tiny bit of comfort to know David felt this, too.

Right before this verse, the psalmist is talking about feeling surrounded. He was literally surrounded by people who were trying to kill him. It was crushing. Scary. And violent. A showdown was imminent. But God stepped in. Even though life pushed in violently, God helped David.

We can trust that when it feels like life is landing one violent blow after another, God's got our back. In the very next verse, David says, The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. This is how we get through those tougher days - reminding ourselves that even when life is violent, the storm seems to strengthen, and the road got steeper and rockier - God is our strength. He will not abandon us ot the harshness of life. He will step right up beside us and help us navigate those face-smashing times in life.

Today, I will remind myself that God's in it with me. He's gathering His things to step up beside me, not to tuck and run! Whatever is happening today will not last forever, even if it feels like it. God will make a way through the rivers and deserts. Through the valleys and the mountain paths. He is in it with us even when we feel totally smashed! I am determined to trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

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Affirmations for Caregivers

I wrote Affirmations for Caregivers because it was what I needed to hear! This 31-day journal includes 31 scripturally based affirmations. Each day, the affirmation is followed by a short writing prompt and a verse or two to read. I also have videos on YouTube that coincide with each day's affirmation.