Category: A word in season

How to connect to the source of hope and peace

In times of uncertainty when we feel anxious, it helps to know how to connect to the source of hope and peace.

Last summer, which now seems so long ago, I went on a bike ride through a long, dark tunnel that had me praying a Jesus prayer.  You know, one of those foxhole prayers when you need a lifeline because the circumstances you find yourself in feel really overwhelming.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the only one having that experience. When you’re worried or distressed, knowing that other people aren’t can be comforting, but sometimes that’s not enough.

What is helpful is knowing that Jesus is with us when we feel that way. A simple call out to Jesus can bring us closer to a place of peace.

May you find comfort, maybe a little humor at my predicament last summer, in how I coped in the darkness.

Coping in the darkness – a guiding light

Maybe my experience and moment of prayer will encourage you in your own prayers.

Simple and desperate prayers are always okay to pray.

 “We put our hope in the Lord.
  He is our help and our shield.
  In him our hearts rejoice,
  for we trust in his holy name.
  Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
  for our hope is in you alone.” Psalm 33:20-22 NLT

Sometimes songs speak the words our hearts need to hear. I heard this song today and it spoke to mine. Perhaps it will speak to yours too.

Fighting for Me – Riley Clemmons

Offer grace and compassion to one another

Walking out this season requires adjustments, like offering grace and compassion to one another.

Adjustments

Anyone else feeling a bit confined in their new work-from-home space? I’m sharing a cramped cubicle with a co-worker in this one room schoolhouse. We’ve had to make adjustments to make it work. The internet is a bit of a timeshare at the moment. I try to limit my use when my husband needs more bandwidth. Thankfully writing blog posts or book content is mostly done offline.

We’ve also been staying home, only going out when we need groceries. (As I write this, one week has passed since the last trip).

On a walk

Out on a walk, we talked to our neighbors who live across the street – from across the street. Venturing out a bit farther, we came across a young family with kids. When we each steered away from one another and the parents scooted their kids a safe distance away, their children asked why. Then came the age appropriate response about social distancing.

We’re told to practice social distancing to avoid the spread of the virus. For some it’s inconvenient. For others it’s a matter of life and death. How do we bridge the gap between the two?

Where grace steps in

The gap is where grace steps in, when we make a choice to benefit someone else and not ourselves.

Early on it was thought that the virus primarily affected the older generation. Some others figured they could go about their business believing the virus wouldn’t impact them.

Once it was discovered that seemingly healthy people could still transmit the virus, the climate changed. Those not directly in harm’s way could still negatively impact those who are.

Conscious choice

We have to make more conscious choices. Do I act in my own best interest or do I consider the life of another?

By choosing to follow the recommendation of social distancing, we as a community positively affect the outcome of this current situation. We do our part to minimize the spread of the virus.

Those who are healthy muddle through these inconveniences the same as those who are not. No one gets a pass. Instead we all adapt in this new environment so everyone receives the benefit.

Call for compassion

The call is for compassion. Compassion means to suffer with. Compassion for one another means we suffer together in these challenging times – inconvenient for some, life-altering for others – so that all may have a chance at receiving the benefit, life.

Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, reached out to a world in need. In all compassion and humility He stepped in with His very life so that we might have the gift of eternal life.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

Grace and compassion

Jesus stepped into the gap, through grace, to our benefit and not His own.

In this season, may we remember the grace and compassion Jesus extended to us, and in turn offer grace and compassion to one another.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 NIV

Need more encouragement in this season?

Look forward in a new way.

Be still.

Did anybody notice? Look forward in a new way.

In this year of 2020, we are in a season requiring clarity of vision. Life is changing. We have to look at things from a different perspective. Maybe this is a chance to look forward in a new way.

In some cases, families are being forced back under one roof. This may be a difficulty or hardship for some. For others it may create a chance to reconnect, learn how to interact together, learn how to be a family with one another.

My prayer is that love and peace would persevere where there is struggle or strife.

For some families, changing conditions mean isolation from loved ones.

My prayer is that those who feel alone will find connection and comfort in some way with people who are close by.

For churches, the building has been closed. Worship has been forced out of the building. Churches are having to rethink how they do church, how they reach out into the community.

My prayer is that more people will have access to and hear a message of hope.

Job situations are changing. My prayer is for all who are impacted economically in this season, especially those feeling the drastic decrease in income, that each one will feel a sense of stability and security in the midst of the uncertainty.

I’m seeing creativity as restaurants learn how to send their food out into the homes and neighborhoods.

My prayer is that we may all find creative new ways of moving forward in a positive direction.

What if one of the repercussions or consequences of this season is that we learn how to be in the home with the family?

So in this season of difficulty and drastic change, don’t be discouraged.

My prayer is that something good grows out of the upset.

 “Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
   Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV

What can I do in this season of chaos? Be still.

Be still.

One of the most oft-quoted verses in the Bible comes in the middle of the chaos. Find God’s grace and love in the stillness.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NIV

What a beautiful thought, to be still, unless you’re a go-getter, self-starter, take-matters-into-your-own-hands, or prefer-to-be-in-control type of person.

If stillness isn’t your strength, rest assured, you’re in good company. This verse doesn’t show up in the middle of a peaceful, pleasant, gentle-breeze kind of setting. This truth stands in stark contrast to all the verses that surround it. Chaos, earth-shaking, mess-making troubling circumstances surround this simple phrase.

Another way to consider these instructions is, “Rest assured, I’ve got this.” Everything’s under control, God’s control.

“Settle in. Watch me work.”

If we feel like we can’t handle what’s going on in our lives, rest assured, we don’t have to. God has everything covered. Covered by His grace. Covered with His love.

If your inclination is to do something, then believe. Believe that God has everything under control. Believe that God is at work in every situation. Believe that God knows what’s going on and is present in all of it.

If you want something to do, believe.

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NIV

How to hear from God – where to look

How to hear from God

Want to know how to hear from God? Listen.

Know what to listen for. In this post I describe a few ways I’ve heard God speak. In addition, time spent in the Bible gives us a feel for how God speaks, what God says, and truths about God. Not sure where to start? Here are a few ways and verses to get started.

Before much else I prayed

I woke up this morning with a big project on my mind. I wasn’t sure what direction to go in, but I knew I had some writing to do on a book project.

Before much else I sat down for ten minutes and prayed. My prayer happened to be written down, but you can say yours aloud or in the quiet of your heart.

I said what was on my heart, then, wait for it, I listened. Yup. Gave God a chance to speak.

I waited

I waited. In my heart I sensed I was supposed to open my Bible and spend time reading Scriptures instead of going straight to writing. This was a bit counterintuitive because I have a lot of writing to do, but I obeyed, complied, did what I sensed God wanted me to do.

Well, guess what? I took four pages of notes, made some incredible discoveries, and ended up with fresh ideas and plenty of notes for my writing project.

Not sure how?

Not sure how to go about listening?

Share a prayer with God, then pause. Wait. Without an agenda. It’s OK if all you hear is silence or distracting sounds of everyone and everything around you. The key is to start. Create an expectation that you will hear from God.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 NIV

Where to start

Not sure where in the Bible to start? Are you familiar with the 23rd Psalm? Start there. Open your Bible to the middle, approximately where the Psalms are, and read through Psalm 23.

Try reading it slowly or one verse at a time then pausing.

Does a word or a phrase catch your eye?

Does it bring you a sense of peace?

Does it convict you of something in your life?

Scripture is one way God speaks to us.

God can speak to us

Taking a moment to open the Bible and focus on Scripture creates an opportunity for God to show us something in the text, to show us something about who He is, or something He wants to show us about ourselves. These are just a few ways that God can speak to us through Scripture.

And if a person’s name or a situation comes to mind while you are reading, that could also be a prompt you are to pray for that person or situation.

What to pray

Not sure what to pray? There’s an app for that.

Apply this Scripture during your prayer time anytime you don’t know the words to pray:

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 NIV

Prayer

The more comfortable we get with the idea of praying to God, the more likely we can say a short prayer in any context of our lives. Stuck in traffic? Pray. Sitting at work? Say a quick prayer. Doing chores around the house? Say a few words in prayer. Stuck at home? Pray.

The more we practice this notion of prayer, the more easily it can become a habit of prayer.

In a season of uncertainty, prayer might just be the thing to help our hearts.