Some seasons are harder than others and I'm sure you know exactly what I mean. There is no such thing as a "perfect" life as life itself, holds incredible blessings yet, incredible pains. I used to think it was possible to fix the problems in my life and the problems of others but I quickly figured out that, with my human hands and human brokenness, I can "fix" nothing, only God can.
As long as we live on this Earth, brokenness will exist but if we look close enough, we will also see the incredible hands and love of God working in everything. I know it may feel hard dear friend and reader, to believe but, I want to encourage you today to look for the constant light God has chosen to shine in the midst of your darkness. Believe it or not, it's there. The evidence of God's fingerprints exist in your life and in the very pains you carry.
Today's devotional is for the person needing to know that God is present in the pain. This is to remind you that the pain is temporary, God is everlasting and God is standing in the sea of chaos with you, calming the storms.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". -Psalm 46:1
I remember the pain I felt when my mom suddenly passed away back in 2014. It was Valentines Day when she took her last breath and, the holiday that I once celebrated with enthusiastic love, quickly became the holiday I experienced with incredible pain. My family and I were entering into a season of great mourning as my mother was literally the glue that held us all together. Despite how much I prayed or tried holding onto the verbal reminders that God was with me and for me, I felt nothing but emptiness and consistent heartache. God didn't feel close. His presence didn't feel near. I didn't feel comforted no matter how many people came to visit and offer support. In that very pain, I felt lost and I felt like no one understood the breaking in my heart.
Have you ever been there before? Have you ever felt deep pain that no one could fix or understand? If so, know that you aren't alone in that. Know that there are people all over the world, experiencing the same thing or greater. Even though I didn't feel God's presence in the way I believed it should feel, God, in fact, was holding me together and walking with me each step of the way. You see, God isn't loudly screaming in our ears and shaking us until we experience him with open eyes. He tends to move in the little things that keep our feet moving forward. Have you ever looked back in your life and wondered how you made it through some of the darkest times? If you look closely, you will see that it wasn't entirely you getting through. It wasn't because you did something incredible or profound but someway, somehow, you woke up each day, putting one foot into front of the other. You took one more step. When you needed something and had no idea where it was coming from and you prayed, that stranger came from nowhere to bless you or you suddenly had an open door you didn't know existed. The pieces just kept coming together without your hands or efforts. Pay attention to this dear friend- this is God moving on your behalf. This is God's presence in the middle of your pain and this is exactly how I witnessed God's presence in my personal pain.
My mothers passing was hard and still is but I can tell you that, God put pieces together for me and for my family even though our pain was hard. He aligned incredible people to walk with us and help us along the way. He provided strength that kept us moving forward even when the tears flowed. He provided financially, mentally, physically and so much more. It wasn't in a big, billboard way- it was in the smallest details that eventually added up to the bigger blessings. The tears still flow. The pain of loss still is evident in our lives today but, when I look back at our painful season, I see the heart of God breaking with us yet leading us through. Even if I didn't see it clearly, God was carrying us through because we couldn't do it ourselves. It may have been small increments of change and movement with setbacks but, it was movement forward.
Today, I pray you are blessed by this encouragement dear reader. I may not know your pain or the hard place you are in but I do know what it feels like to hurt. I simply want to encourage you to look deeper in your season and pay attention to the details. The God who created the heavens and the Earth, is the same God that delights and takes interests in your personal life. I pray you see the hands of God moving for you and not against you. You are loved, now and forever more.
Blessings,
Your POP coach
Zenobia
Prayer today: God, help me to see you today in the midst of what I am going through. Help me to see and know that you are for me, never against me. Give me eyes that see your hands in my life and help me make the next brave step forward. You are good and I will trust that you are here. Thank you for seeing me through this. In your mighty name, I will get through because of you. Amen.
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