Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!
“I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.” ~ Psalm 16:8,9 [NKJV]
Empty.
It’s hard to get through the day feeling empty. Especially when every day seems to be filled with emptiness.
Empty womb.
Empty arms.
Empty heart.
Emptiness is HEAVY. How can emptiness have weight–isn’t that an oxymoron? I’m not sure how it happens but I know the emotions of emptiness are so heavy and burdensome and yet we readily tote them around as if we have no alternative. What do you do when those feelings of emptiness tempt you to carry them with you throughout your day? What if there was someone who wanted to carry that weight for you? Would you give it up? What if someone offered something else in exchange? Would you take them up on their offer?
Well, that someone is Jesus. He wants you to see Him as your burden lifter; the One who stands at the ready to pick up and carry all the weight of barrenness so that you can be yoked with Him, filled with His Spirit, and experience the fullness of His rest, peace and joy.
Will you let Him?
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence…” ~Psalm 16:11 [NIV]
Waiting…
It’s not fun.
In our American “get it NOW” society, we tend to want our desires to manifest immediately. We don’t like waiting.
But the old saying “good things come to those who wait,” still rings true. Sometimes an incubation period is needed for in order for us to see the desired end result. Seeds don’t produce immediately after they are planted. Farmers and gardeners have to wait. It takes time before the seed produces the first sprout which forces its way through the soil to bask in the sunlight and continue to grow.
Even God waits. He planted many “Word seeds” through His prophets who predicted a Savior/Messiah would come. But He waited through many generations. He desired for Jesus to come to the earth and save mankind but it took hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Sending Jesus was indeed the BEST thing that God has done for mankind but God patiently waited for the right time!
You may be waiting on a desired result that seems impossible to come through, only because it’s taking so long to manifest. But hang in there! The seed is about to sprout. There is HOPE! You’ll find it in Hebrews 10:35, 36:
“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”
I pray that you’ll endure this season of waiting with hope, peace and joy!
Just a note to encourage you to remember the goodness of God…He enjoys doing you good!
I couldn’t say it any better than God already did in Jeremiah 32:38-41 [NLT]:
“They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them…”
Happiness is an emotion and is based on our external circumstances. It fluctuates and is temporary. On the other hand, joy is more an attitude of the heart. Joy is a much stronger factor in our lives than happiness ever could be.
Joy is based on receiving God’s love (Galatians 5:22). It is a by-product of His Spirit dwelling in us and producing growth in our spirit. Joy is stable because it is based on the unchanging love Jesus has for us. Our relationship with Him allows us to enjoy His presence at any time, even in the midst of the worst hurt. In His presence, there is fulness (abundance) of joy! So when there are circumstances in our lives that challenge us to our core, and prevent us from finding anything to be happy about, we can still have joy because we find solace in knowing that we are loved by the One who is Love!
Being joyful is a choice. That’s because even in the midst of severe tests and trials, joy can still exist in our hearts and be exhibited in our actions. During hard times, we can choose to be miserable or we can choose to find pleasure in our relationship with Jesus, knowing that He brings life, peace, strength, comfort and much more. The joy that is resident in Him is full, complete, and perfect. That joy is a place and means of safety, protection and refuge for us in good and bad times alike. (Strong’s Concordance)
It’s no wonder that Paul reiterated to the Philippians to rejoice and again, to rejoice.
Joy…it’s a good thing!
Graphic source: http://www.marilynmoll.com/2010/01/the-joy-of-the-lord-is-my-strength/