Psalm 43:5
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
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When we are faced with a daunting task, even if that thing
will have an end result which is expected to bring great happiness, we can
sometimes be focused on the struggle in between the beginning and the end. My Mom is going through one of those times.
After losing her husband to brain cancer just over 5 years ago, she has done an amazing job at reorienting her life. She volunteers for the library, the Botanical Gardens and has spent many hours at Ronald McDonald House, serving others. She sold her old house, bought a new one and cleaned out a couple of overstuffed storage units to boot. Now she is moving to her next adventure of a lifelong dream, living in the sun and heat of Florida.
After losing her husband to brain cancer just over 5 years ago, she has done an amazing job at reorienting her life. She volunteers for the library, the Botanical Gardens and has spent many hours at Ronald McDonald House, serving others. She sold her old house, bought a new one and cleaned out a couple of overstuffed storage units to boot. Now she is moving to her next adventure of a lifelong dream, living in the sun and heat of Florida.
There is a lot to do; sell her house; determine what things to move from Ft. Wayne to Sebring, FL; determine what things she can let go of; figure out how to get everything from point A to point B. These kinds of things…logistics, in this situation…can keep us from fully living in the joy of what is to come. Similar barriers to joy exist when planning a vacation or wedding, or frankly, living our earthly lives.
The little and big things which drag us down, make us
downcast, are not what we should be focused on.
The joy at the end is what matters.
When we tackle these though situations with joy, our struggle changes to
one of pain to one of purpose.
Over the next few weeks and months as my Mom is feeling down
due to myriad variables for which to solve, all she has to do is close her eyes
and picture an 80 degree day, in January, with the bright sun on her face and
the lush scent of gardenias in the air.
Over the rest of our lives when our soul is downcast,
because life can often be a struggle, all we have to do is close our eyes and
picture standing in the presence of our Lord, full of joy.
Dear God,
When we focus on what is temporary,
our sprits can become detached from what truly matters. When we focus on what is eternal, we are
filled with the joy of Your love.
Remind us, awaken us, Lord, when we cause ourselves to be separated from the potential of living in Your spirit.
When we pray and spend time with
you, grant us a taste of what is to come.
Help us to picture being with You in Heaven, for ever.
We praise You and give You all of
the glory, in Your Son’s name,
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