Life is good and God is faithful.
And … ooftah.
Sometimes I whisper, Really? Is life good and is God faithful?
Then I say out loud, Yes. Really. It is and He is.
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. (Psalm 117:2)
One of the really cool things about this amazing God is that how we feel doesn’t change who He is.
Because He is God, He is faithful. And because He is faithful, life is good.
But I bet you’ll agree with me here … some days it’s just tough to stay in synch, right? It’s like showing up for your tap dance recital and your whole troupe is tapping several beats behind the music. You were brave enough to wear the leotard and tights on stage, but when the music stopped, your little group of middle-aged women was still tapping your hearts out.
Or, keeping with the recital theme, you’re sitting at the grand piano in a room filled with nervous piano students and even more nervous parents, and your right hand finishes the memorized piece before your left hand finishes. (How does that even happen?)
Those life moments, as mortifying as they felt at the time, are small potatoes compared to some of the stuff messing with our equilibrium today, right?
There’s no news flash here … we are surrounded by circumstances and events that can really throw off our balance. Test our patience. Mess with our emotions. Challenge our faith.
So, how about if we do this …
Let’s take the time to get our bearings. Let’s not rush through the day trying to escape the knot in our stomachs or aches in our hearts. Let’s slow down and find our own healthy ways to restore our joy and our peace. (A good place to start: read Psalm 23 out loud.)
We don’t have to have all our ducks in a row. We can show ourselves some grace.
God tells me my life matters. That He has good things planned for me. And that in my darkest hours, He is with me. That is why life is good.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)
There are questions whose answers will remain a mystery until we get to heaven. And in those unanswered questions, we find God’s faithfulness to show up. Hold us. Comfort us. Guide us.
It was three years ago this week that we experienced the gracious gift of being with mom during her last days on earth. And you know what grief is like – it shows up in funny ways, doesn’t it? Sometimes
the memories and emotions trickle in and you sigh a little deeper. Other times, it’s like you’ve been hit with a tsunami wave and the tears come before you know it and you just can’t get your balance.
Perhaps life has been a little rougher for you too lately. Take the time to grieve what you’ve lost. It may not be a parent, but it could be a job. Finances. Health. Relationships. Dreams.
If you’re looking to find your rhythm and just catch your breath, sometimes a good book with hope-filled messages and faith-filled reminders can make all the difference. Here are a few of my very favorites …
The Hard Good: Showing up for God to Work in you When you Want to Shut Down by Lisa Whittle.
“Written for those who desperately want to move forward, “The Hard Good” gives voice to the hard places we all have lived and Lisa’s clear directions as to where to go next.”
Laughing Through the Ugly Cry and Finding Unstoppable Joy by Dawn Barton.
“This is a book of hope. Every time I have chosen to start climbing out a dark hole (and yes, I believe it is a choice), I have found little, unexpected pieces of hope, like breadcrumbs leading me slowly, slowly, slowly toward the light. I hope that as you read them, you’ll find a little light for yourself.”
(I have to add here – this book will make you laugh and cry and laugh again. What a story!)
And of course …
Getting My Ducks in a Row and other Stories of Faith by me!
Through my stories, I share moments when I’ve tried to fix situations instead of giving up control, worried about disappointing people rather than focusing on how to love them, and in my attempts to get all the details in perfect order, I’ve missed moments. My ducks were paddling so fast under water, they just kept going in circles.
Life is good and God is faithful.
Take the time to nourish your soul and get your bearings. Grieve and celebrate.
Show yourself grace. You’ll find your new rhythm.
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