Lessons from the past…

I had nowhere to turn. Depression held me in its firm grip. From every corner of my windswept mind, torments from the enemy of my soul assailed me, “You are such a failure. You will never amount to anything. Hey! Where is this God you talk about? I thought He would never leave you.” On and on the tirades continued. On and on my spirit descended into the miry clay of despair.

And then my Jesus called my name, Nan. Nan, I am here. You are not alone.

My spirit stirred from the depths. “But, Lord, where are You? Where have you been in my pain? In my confusion?”

I love you, child. You are mine. This darkness you feel is the shadow of my wing. I have been with you all along, preserving you, shielding you, and desperately wanting you to reach out your hand to Me. Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.

This exchange began a lesson in understanding the essence of my Heavenly Father. Can I trust Him? Do I have to feel His Presence to know that He is with me? When bad things happen, should I assume that He has left me to my own devices? In my recovery, God led me to Isaiah 40:31 from the Amplified Bible.

“But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; They shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

Those who wait for the Lord – who expect, look for and hope in Him – those who come to God expectantly, change and renew their strength. Their expectancy lifts them close to God – to their source of strength.

I let these thoughts sink in. No longer were my burdens my own. As I waited on God, His Presence replaced my spirit of heaviness with praise. He cupped my heart in His hand and gave me rest.

Windswept corners. I turned a corner that day. I pray that you’ll find the strength to do the same.

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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to be encouraged by Meredith Andrews singing “You’re Not Alone”. I pray that the words of my heart will give you strength for the journey.