The past week has been quite a lot to process, hasn’t it? A lot has happened in the world, in our communities, and in our circles.

I’ve wanted to post for a couple of weeks now, but haven’t found the words when I’ve sat down to type. Then last week happened. I felt like everyone was taking to social media and typing out their own thoughts. What’s one more, right? I just… I couldn’t find it in me. I didn’t want to consume or add to the mix with more thoughts.

Looking back to weeks prior, even months, and I wasn’t feeling very positive. I wasn’t feeling anything but anxiety and fighting to just get through the day and get to the next morning with hope that the next would be better.

Three Sundays ago, a sermon at church on a morning I was fighting to get there and stay at church to listen to said sermon was for me that day. When I had been in this constant state of anxiety it seemed, I was sitting there at church when my pastor said that we tend to search for the hidden instead of obeying what’s already been revealed.

Does that not sum up anxiety and so much of our problems? We dwell on the uncertainties rather than His truths already revealed to us.

So many things lately have been for a greater purpose – our simple, every day decisions can be worked out for His good. Have you seen it?

At BSF last week – which was our first week! I’m so grateful for that again – our teaching leader talked about how the devil is working to keep us from joining together and hearing God’s word. He’s constantly giving us excuse after excuse to stay home or do something else. I feel that on BSF evenings and Sunday mornings, almost every week if not all. It makes sense why. God has something for us in those moments – a something Satan doesn’t want us to hold onto or experience. Every time I fight that temptation I feel infinitely better. The mornings and evenings are amazing. The satisfaction of doing what I want or just staying home only lasts a short time.

Like that Sunday when I was probably at one of the worsts with the temptation to stay home but the strength of the Lord was upon me and I heard that message that went straight to the heart. I’ve looked at that Sunday’s notes so many times!

And since then, life hasn’t been easy. Life has been hard and heavy. So many things in many aspects of life try to steal our joy and security.

If I had still been in the very thick days of anxiety like I had been maybe a month ago, this past week could have been so very different for me. I could have spiraled easily with doom thoughts of why and even less secure in why I go out in public, honestly.

Thank God He delivered me from that spell at the right time.

Tragedy after tragedy have gripped our nation and communities. This isn’t even including all the other injustices afflicting other nations in the world. What we feel is a loss of security and independence. Fear has taken root in our lives, but this isn’t from the Lord. He’s allowed things to happen and for what?

Over and over in Scripture we see the words from Him: Do not be afraid. Be not afraid. Go without fear.

Over and over again He calls His followers: Go. Tell. Spread the Good News.

The time is now. We don’t know when Jesus is coming back. No one does, but what if it’s tomorrow? While we can’t dwell on the unknowns, we do know that He is coming back. Scripture tells us this. Are we ready? It’s going to be tough – just as it is today.

Are we willing to overcome our temptations and fears to lean into what God has called us to do since the beginning of time?

Some of us will always have the same struggles to overcome. I thought I was done with anxiety years ago, but here it’s been again. 🙂 Creeping in like an unwanted flood in my house! I didn’t ask for it, yet was I not aware that it was a possibility? Anxiety is there at our doorstep and just needs a little nudge of the door to get inside sometimes.

It’s a constant battle of flesh and spirit. We have to be willing to fight. Not with physical weapons and violence, but have the armor of God secured and ready. His very Word is power.

While the nations are raging, we can stand strong and push back in love and kindness. Pray for your enemies and those who persecute you. Do not grow weary.

There’s still time to pray for this past week’s actors in Satan’s plans of evil.

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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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Encouragement today:

• God isn’t done with this world or with us yet.
• Hold onto what is true. Look to His Word to measure all others.
• The world may hurt you with their words or their infliction of violent acts, but they cannot take your soul that is secure in Christ.

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You know what song I’ve had on repeat for over a week now? Sunrise by Forrest Frank. So, so good. Worth a listen! I’ve binged his music about two weeks ago and he takes up quite a bit of space on my playlist right now, haha.

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I hope you have a great Monday and week!!