One of those days. You know, the kind of days that one moment you are completely content just going about your day and then all of a sudden it hits you. "It" could be anything, depending upon the person, but for me "it" was the urge to just pick up the phone to call my mom. Just to tell her something completely random because I knew she would've appreciated it and it would've made her laugh. Thing is, I couldn't. My mom passed away two years ago. Funny thing is though, she is still an integral part of my life...so much so that it just seems normal to want to pick up the phone to call her...to laugh, joke, and share stories & advice like we always used to.
Days like this are bittersweet reminders. Bitter because my mom's absence is even more evident. Sweet because she left such a lasting impression on me that if I just close my eyes I can still see her big smile with those pearly white teeth and hear her laugh that instantly brought joy to any room.
It's days like these that I am reminded of just how much pain comes with losing someone you love. But, it's also days like this that I am reminded of the goodness of the Gospel. My flesh tells me to mope around and feel sorry for myself because of the pain that I feel, but God's word tells me to seek hope in something greater...Someone greater. Someone who is much bigger than any pain or void that I can ever feel. Someone who will take that pain and trade it for life-giving hope that produces JOY.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we[c] rejoice[d] in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." -Romans 5:1-5
"The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish."-Proverbs 10:28
You see, it is days like these that I realize my need for the Gospel daily. Without it, I become prideful and Satan tricks me into believing I can fix things on my own. That I should just brush off the pain because I don't need to bother anyone with my burdens. The problem with that is that means satan is getting exactly what he wants and I start distinguishing myself by the pain I've suffered. The reality is, God WANTS us to "bother" Him with our burdens (Matthew 11:28//Psalm 55:22). Ben Stuart says it well, "Don't strive to distinguish yourself by the pain you've suffered, but by your ability to move past the pain and be a blessing to people."
So, today I choose to not let it be just another one of those days. Today I choose to "bother" God by laying my burdens at His feet. The loss of my mom will always be bittersweet, but I do not have to let it steal my joy. I can let the God who has overcome the world fill me with peace that surpasses all understanding. But, I have to trust Him enough to let Him. Instead of believing that my pain is a result of God's failure to give me good things, I choose to believe that what He gives me is best...and more than enough!
What is "it" for you that Satan can use to trick you into believing lies that steal your joy? Instead of chalking one of those days up to "it", refresh your soul with the hope and goodness of His promises so that you can move past "it" to be a blessing to others!
The essence of fear is not knowing the outcome. Revelations 19. I know the outcome. God wins. And in the end I will be singing Hallelujiah.
