What is required of you today?

 Do you feel like you’re grasping for energy, for strength, even for resolve and for hope?

The last several weeks have been overwhelming and busy and painful for me. I've felt emotionally empty on so many days--missing time with Sean. I've felt frantic like I can't keep up and I've felt insecure from letting comparison sneak in when my guard has been down. I've felt burnt out from pushing and striving and over-doing. I've felt frustrated with myself for forgetting God in stressful moments.

A few days ago, God began to speak such life into my soul with the beautiful words of Isaiah 40--and I'm clinging to the truth about who He is and how He moves.  The things that are required of me in this season of life haven't gone anywhere, but I'm walking into today with open hands and with eyes determined to see my Lord for who He is in every moment. 

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God,” (Isaiah 40:1).

Comfort. He’s reaching out to comfort you.

This day—today—is your only time you’ll live the things that are in front of you in the next twenty-four hours. This day is unique. God made it. And He wants you in it.

[Keep on]

What is needed today?

Do you feel like you can’t give enough, do enough, even be enough?

“The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever,” (Isaiah 40:8).

It’s so short. Today is so short. But the God who says to be still and know that He IS…that God is forever.

Where can you intentionally be still? Where can you find rest for your soul, even in the middle of what so often feels like chaos?

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young,” (Isaiah 40:11).

He is gentle. And close. And kind.

[Keep on].

He sees your day and He knows what it requires of you. And He will hold you. Close. He gently leads you.

Just because of who He is. And because He loves you. Not because you can earn it if you strive hard enough. He won’t think less of you or call you a failure if you don’t measure up to the standards that you’ve set for yourself.

[Keep on].

“Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint,” (Isaiah 40:28-31).

He sees you. He hears you. He is holding out comfort, open arms, compassionate love, gentle leading, and all of the strength you need.

[Keep on].

What is in front of you today? Do you long for rest? Do you need strength? Do you just need to be held and to know that you’re not alone?

Open your eyes and look for all the little ways God meets you where you are. He’s not missing this. I can’t remind myself of that enough.

Can we do this together? Can we let Him into all of our moments—no matter how chaotic—and cling to the beautiful things He is offering to us?

Some practical ways to make it happen:

• Find something on your to-do list that doesn't absolutely have to be there. Take it off for today, and replace it with an intentional moment to be thankful to God and to talk with Him. Even if it means hiding in the bathroom with kids throwing themselves at the door. 
• Pause and Acknowledge. Maybe it's while you're folding laundry or washing dishes or pouring a cup of coffee. Intentionally put what's running through your mind on pause. Let your heart be still before God--even in quick little moments--and acknowledge that He's with you. Acknowledge that He is enough. Acknowledge that He will carry you.
• Rest. You might have room in your day to actually sit down for this...or you might be like me and laugh when you hear that word. But rest can happen even when you're on-the-go. It's about your heart. Find a verse to focus on today (maybe one like Isaiah 40:11 or Isaiah 40:31 from this post), and choose to rest in the truth of who God is and in what He says about you. Believe it. Let that rest be what drives you into your next moment.

I’d love to hear how He meets you today and all the little ways that He gives you strength to keep on!