In Worrisome Space

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. – (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)

Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you. – (1 Peter 5:7, ERV)

Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. – (1 Peter 5:7, TLB)

 

We are in a time that is full of uncertainty and unknowns. It is seemingly impossible to avoid “what if” scenarios, as a state of emergency has been declared by our governor, and the World Health Organization has deemed Covid-19 a pandemic. The weight and worry that I bear looks different than those who are living with compromised immune systems or are in households with young children or elderly, as their concerns are much more immediate and life-threatening. For others, it is more a matter of day-to-day living and the wonder as to how it will all work out. As an educator, there is much uncertainty as to when our schools will be closed, and for how long. In this space, my only real choice is to give all of my worries and uncertainties to God. He sees and knows, and He cares about all that concerns us. I know not why such a crazy crisis is taking place, yet I know it is an opportunity for people to rise up and love others well. Our charge is to love as we are loved. May we give all of our worries to God, because He cares for us, and depend on Him to lead and guide us as we navigate this rocky road of uncertainty.

 

In worrisome space,

Give all unto God;

The Lord cares for us,

Despite all our flaws.

He sees and He knows,

Our each anxious thought;

He’s present to help,

Each time He is sought.

Even when all things,

Impossible seem;

The Lord has a way,

To give grace, redeem.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can come to You and cast all of our worries and cares upon You. Thank You that Your hands can hold them, and Your shoulders have already bore every burden we ever will bear. Thank You that You provide grace, goodness and love as we come to You. Forgive us for carrying weight and holding anxiety and concerns that we are not meant to hold in fear. Teach us to trust You and listen to wisdom, so that we would navigate in grace and love. Show us how to love well, all those around us, in tangible and meaningful ways. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give You all of our cares and concerns and trust You to lead us in wisdom and strength in the face of all of the unknown. Above all, help us to choose love in all that we say and do, every step of the way. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. – Psalm 55:22

Strength in Hope

And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient. And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope. – (Romans 5:3-4, ERV)

And that’s not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness. – (Romans 5:3-4, VOICE)

 

I cannot honestly claim to be happy when troubles come. Patience comes more easily in some scenarios than others. When the rubber meets the road, I know that I can run to our Redeemer, and He provides the strength and stamina that is needed to sustain me through whatever I am facing. His presence provides the hope I hold that the present circumstance will not remain forever, and His goodness and grace grant joy and peace despite the trial before me. God is good, even when our circumstances are not. Every trial that we endure, refines and grows us to more clearly reflect the radiance of our Redeemer. May His patient endurance rise within us as we face what lies before us, and may we hold fast to the hope that is found in the goodness of God alone.

 

In times of trial,

Endurance is found;

When we seek the Lord,

His grace does abound.

The strength that we need,

And hope we can hold;

Given through goodness,

Patience shall unfold.

He will make us strong,

Through our suffering;

Our character’s shaped,

When to Him we cling.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we might not be happy with trials or troubles that come our way, we can be grateful for what comes out of them. Thank You that You use our every struggle to establish patience within us, and prove to us the strength that we can find in You. Thank You that our character is refined when we seek You in the struggle, and we learn to further trust and place our hope in You. Forgive us for not seeking or trusting in the throes of the trials. Teach us to trust You more, so that in all things and at all times, we would seek Your wisdom and strength to lead us in the way in which we are meant to go. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they too may come to know the hope that is found in Your goodness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we hope in You, no matter what we are going through. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3

Nothing’s Too Hard for Him

Lord God, with Your great power You made the earth and the sky. There is nothing too hard for You to do. – (Jeremiah 32:17, ERV)

 

When faced with seemingly impossible scenarios and situations, it is good to remember Who is in control. The very same God who created everything, dwells within us, and equips us to do that which we could never do in our own strength. All around me, I see people facing and fighting impossible odds and obstacles. In my own life, I have had to make decisions that I would have never asked to make. God in us, gives us the grace and strength to do that which we would not be able to do on our own. May we never forget the One on whom we can always depend. For God’s awesome power is far greater than anything that we face.

 

The very same God,

Who made earth and sky;

is also the One,

on Whom we rely.

There’s nothing we face,

that’s greater than Him;

with Christ within us,

we won’t sink, we’ll swim.

We must look to Him,

and place all our trust;

for He is the One,

who made man from dust.

He breathes life in death,

gives strength where there’s none;

hope to defeated,

forgiveness is done.

All that we may need,

the Lord will supply;

if we choose to trust,

and on Him rely.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You, in Your great power, made the earth and the sky and everything in them. Thank You that there is nothing that is too difficult for You. Thank You that when we choose to place our trust in You, You are our ever-present help and place of peace, no matter what comes our way. Forgive us for forgetting just how powerful You are, as we become fearful in the throes of life’s storms. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will cling to You with all that we are, and draw our strength and hope from You alone. Lead us to be light in the world around us, so that many may come to know the hope that is held in You as we love the way You call us to love. Be glorified O God, as we trust in Your power and capacity to help us in all things and at all times. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25