Shifting Atmosphere

 Are you sure there are only 24 hours in every day? Some days feel like they drag on forever! And for caregivers, it's not due to being bored and having nothing to do! Lol. Sometimes there are so many things demanding our attention that the day slips away before we know it. At the end of these days, it's easy to feel like we failed, with so much left undone. But we can only do so much in the 24 hours a day gives us, right?

Some days, it's easy to see God's hand at work. Other days, the social isolation, loneliness, or overwhelm blinds us to what He is doing. But just because we don't see or feel God at work in the moment doesn't mean He's not up to something. In fact, I truly believe that He made a pathway for us for each day long before it ever arrives. And of course, I have a scripture for it! :-)

Take a quick read of Psalm 77. It's a passage I've returned to many times. It's written by Asaph, and he, like David, knows how to honestly pour his heart out before God. I love that Asaph is so raw. In verse 4, he says that he is too distressed to pray. (NLT) That's serious overwhelm right there! But I get it. Sometimes, there are no words for what our hearts feel. What I love about God is that He gets that.

He gets the words our minds can't form. He understands the emotions behind our deep sighs. He gets every bit of pressure that pushes the tears down our cheeks. A heart turned toward God is enough sometimes. He gets that!

I also like verse 11, because it's where Asaph shifts his own atmosphere. He has been writing about how he doesn't currently see God doing much. He's quick to express his emotions and the burden that's on his heart. Asaph even questions if God has changed His mind. (v. 10)

But then Asaph does something effective. He shifts to giving thanks for things he knows God has done in the past. It's like Asaph is saying, I don't see you in my today, but I will remind myself of how you were in my past. Once he does that, everything changes for the rest of the psalm.

Asaph has moved from dire distress to thankfulness. In verse 12, he says, is there any God as mighty as You? That's a far cry from - where the heck are you, God? 

As caregivers, it can be difficult to see God in our day-to-day. And we may or may not have believers around us who can help encourage us. When we don't see God directly active in our day, we can take a trip down memory lane and encourage ourselves with the things we know He's done before. It will shift our hearts from despair to hope. It broadens our view and reminds us that God is always in our day - even today.

Today, I will remind myself that God didn't pack up and leave overnight. In fact, He is already in this day, my today, working on my behalf, even if I don't see or feel a thing. He's prepared this day for me to believe in His work once again. He's ready for me to lean in a little closer and trust Him a little more. Which is exactly what I am prepared to do. Why? Because I do recall His blessings from the past, all those times I thought it was impossible and somehow, He made a way. I believe I can trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

Check out my latest release. Command Your Morning part 2. This 31-day devotional is the second one in my series Command Your Morning. (Yes, I already started on part 3 - and you're gonna love it!) Take a 31-day journey through Psalm 119 as you practice setting your intention to point your heart at God each day. It's available on Kindle and Print. Check it out!

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