New Mercies Each Morning.
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you just did not know how you were going to find the strength to take another step and face another day? There are plenty of reasons that could contribute to that thought and feeling.
Some examples:
You are a new parent and navigating how to function on little sleep and a brand new schedule.
The loss of a loved one and a pain so deep that you just physically hurt.
An unhealthy workplace that seems to be getting worse day by day.
A broken relationship with someone that you thought would always be there.
A miscarriage after already celebrating, making all the plans, and dreaming of the future.
A child or family member struggling with addiction.
An unanswered prayer that has led to hopelessness, discouragement, and ongoing hardship.
This list could go on and on with things that can or would influence you to struggle with having the strength to face another day of pain and hardship.
Recently, I was in a conversation with a friend, as she was checking in on me. She asked how I was doing, and honestly, tears just filled my eyes. I told her mornings are just so hard lately. This response launched us into further conversation about why that seems to be the case when we are walking through heartache, suffering, and trials.
On one hand, it seems like mornings are hard because it is a fresh reminder that pain and tears are likely to be your friend throughout the day and there is nothing you can really do about that. We cannot just turn our feelings off, although I know many of us wish that we could. On the other hand, I realized that it is also hard because we have to literally surrender all control again, and make the decision to trust that God is truly who He says He is and His ways are better than ours, even in the midst of pain and suffering and when we cannot see or understand what He is doing.
Isn't it interesting that all of a sudden in our hardship and trials, when we reach the end of our (most of the time unintentional) self-reliance and self-protective tendencies, we are so desperate for God to give us the strength to face another day and take another step because we no longer have the ability in and of ourselves.
This has personally challenged me because the reality is that He has always been our only source of true strength, on the good days and the hard days. We so easily forget that the false sense of strength we find in ourselves, in others, and in our circumstances, is just that: false. It leads us down a path of deception. The majority of the time we have no idea that it is happening and that we are trusting in ourselves and works, until something just breaks us all the way to where we are desperate and exhausted, leading us to beg for help. We struggle to really believe that God's mercies are new for us each morning, and today is a new day, with access to hope, grace, joy, peace, a fresh start, etc.
One thing that I pray each of us can grow in and learn to remember, is that God alone is our source of strength. He is the One who leads us day and night. He is the One who is Faithful and always Constant. He is the One who truly fills us with peace, hope, and joy. He is the Provider of an abundant life, which is only found in Him. He is the only One who can truly satisfy every single desire and longing of our heart and soul.
I pray that we would wake up in the mornings and find joy in spending time with our Father. I pray that we would continue to grow in our understanding that apart from Him we can do nothing, and apart from Him there is no greater satisfaction. Whether we be in a great season or a difficult season, I pray that we would remember that He is our Sustainer and that it is His grace that carries us through every moment of life.
Yes, He has provided us good and great people and things which bring joy to our hearts, but these blessings are not meant to fulfill the role of Christ in our life; not even a little bit. They are simply meant to lead us to greater worship of our Him and deeper moments of sanctification and growth, as God is conforming us more and more to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. May we not lose sight of the One who gives us good gifts as a result of the pleasure that comes from receiving the gift; God is greater and better than any gift/blessing we could ever receive.
Today, I pray that you would take a few minutes to really reflect on your dependency on Christ. Think about the things that have recently led to your feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger, confusion, despair, etc. What is the root behind that feeling? Are you looking to yourself for strength? Are you afraid of what others think? Are you seeking your own selfish desires rather than seeking to live peaceably with those around you? Are you focused on your needs and wants rather than the needs of your loved ones? Are you able to give thanks for the hardship, trusting that God has purpose in it, and that He is infinitely wise and perfectly sovereign in all He does? Are you trusting that His mercies are new every single morning and that His grace is sufficient to carry you through another day?
Loved ones, we MUST examine our hearts and our motives. Feelings can lead us down the wrong paths, especially if we are allowing them to dictate our reasoning and actions. Feelings do not equal the Truth; the Truth dictates the Truth. No matter what hardship you are facing and no matter what answered prayer and joy you are living in today, I pray that you would seek to honor Christ first in all things, surrender your own self-reliant tendencies, run to Him for strength for your next step, and rest in the fact that He is exactly who He says He is and will provide all that you need to fulfill His good and perfect plans. Cling to His new mercies this morning; the past (including yesterday 😉) does not have to dictate the present or the future. Let's choose Truth. Let's choose Hope. Let's choose Christ.
He is so good, faithful, and true.
Soli Deo gloria.