Please Lord! Let This Week End!

Please Lord let this week end!

This was my prayer this week.

The whole week I kept saying:

“If I can just make it through this next hour.”
“Let me usher my Dad into heaven.”
“Lord, let me survive the next two hours.”
“Lord, let me plan a funeral for my dad which honors his life.”
“Lord, please don’t let me cry an ugly cry at the funeral when I speak.”
“Lord, let me get my daughter off to college for her freshman year.”
“Lord, let me get through registering my other daughter for a new school that I know nothing about for her freshmen year of high school.”
“Lord, let me make it through this next minute, hour, day and week.”

Now it is close to finished. With God through me … I made it. I made it up the mountain. I made the trek across the desert. I birthed the baby. I survived the week. And it is good to be on the other side.
But guess what? Can I take refuge in the moment? Can I relax by the pool of peace and relaxation? Nope here it comes again. Another week is on the horizon. At the crest of this mountain, lo and behold in the not so distant future … there is another mountain. Just past the refreshment of the waterhole of the end of this season, there is another desert. Just after the baby is born and just learning to nurse, I’m realizing I’m pregnant again. (I’m not really pregnant, that’s how rumors get started!)

Isn’t it true? I’m waiting for that moment when I can just simply breathe again from the finish of the last season and BAM! the next thing hits me and takes my breath away. My grandmother said it this way “there is no rest for the weary.” Well that’s just great, grandma.

But is that saying true? Is there really no rest? Ladies, I need some rest!

It can sure feel that way sometimes. I keep looking for the next season when things will be easier, more fun-filled, less action-packed, more lay-on-the-beach-and-sip-a-cold-drink kind of season, but it doesn’t come does it? Either we look for something to fill our days or something looks for us. Worry, stress, regret, fear, indecisiveness, can all get the best of us. We can begin to wonder if there will ever be any rest. And the hard truth is … no.

Sorry ladies, I would love to bring a truth here that would give you amazing freedom and some date to put on your calendar that you will be free from the struggles of life but it just isn’t truth.

Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

So, what do we do? Crawl up in a ball in the pit of despair? Hang our head, cry in silence, and retreat from the world so maybe it can’t find us? Although tempting and not something I haven’t already thought of or contemplated – no.

We have to learn to make our joy independent of our situation.
There will always be a struggle.
There will always be a fight.
There will always be something that doesn’t feel good.
But, our joy can’t come from these things.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

I am supposed to be joyful even in my struggles? Well that just doesn’t sound like much fun at all. And, sometimes it’s not so happy. But, listen to the verse above, the steadfastness is produced by the testing and when steadfastness has its full effect, you lack nothing. Nothing. That’s a promise of God’s Word. That’s true joy. That’s much better than any promise of temporary happiness the world can bring.

So, I can have full joy even in my current and future struggles knowing that God is doing something in me, and He has this all in His plan to develop me. And, then I will lack … nothing.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Can we trust His promise to work it together for good even in the struggle? Can we smile and have joy even in the hard seasons? Can we trust that God is working His master plan and He already has this under control?

Sometimes I want to trust the season and not the Season Maker. Sometimes I want to depend upon circumstances for my joy instead of the One who makes us joyful. Sometimes I forget this is all really about Him and not about me. Sometimes I forget I can trust Him with my seasons, mountains, and birthings (is that a word? – well,you get my point!).

Today, I’m not sure what your season is, what mountain God is asking you to climb, but I know He is in control. I know if He has called you to it, He will equip you through it. I know we don’t get a lot of scenic breaks along this journey called “life.” But, I also know that we can have joy and peace that passes all understanding even when the next mountain is looming. For God is worthy of our trust, and He will make all things good.

It’s His promise. And, we can trust Him.

READ: James 1:2-4

PRAY: Ask God to show you His peace and joy in every struggle and season. Ask God to help you trust Him even in the struggles of life.

GROW: Commit to not being led by your feelings and emotions of the seasons and struggles but rather by the truth of God’s Word. Work to trust that He has this struggle and you can still be joyful in the midst of hardship.