Arise

I have a confession to make: I started writing this post two months ago. I wish I could say that I've overcome the struggles that inspired this post to begin with, but that would be untrue. If anything, these struggles have become stronger and more domineering. I am more tired, weary, and depleted than I was a month ago, and nothing short of the Spirit of God could replenish me. This season of life has left me doggy-paddling through waters of exhaustion, remorse, and self-doubt. Does that mean that God is any less great? Nope.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

This season feels as if I've been involuntarily running a marathon with no primary training. There have been many adjustments, and I am not an adaptable person. There have been many lessons that I was unwilling to learn. There has been an abundance of sharpening and pruning and refining by my gracious Father. Now, the wedding is a month away, I'm adjusting to a new job, and finals are looming. April has felt like the final leg of the race before I reach the finish line, or what I imagine that would feel like if I ever ran more than a couple miles at a time. Despite my exhaustion, I feel like the season for dying, killing, breaking down, weeping, mourning, casting away stones, refraining, losing, keeping silence, and war is nearly over. The season of love and laughter and dancing and gathering is beginning with the summer, and there is hope to run towards. I would elaborate or add more, but I think God's Word can do infinitely more for your spirit than my meager words.

This post will be short because my free time is short, but I pray that for every weary soul, these scriptures would seep into your dry and weary desert soul. 

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Isaiah 40:29

"Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need, My power works best in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

Malachi 3:10

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Luke 11:9