By: Kim Womack
I absolutely love holidays, birthdays, and any other reason to celebrate! I love the twinkling lights at Christmas, I love the excitement of giving birthday gifts, and I love getting together with friends and family no matter the occasion. However, it’s been more of a struggle to look forward to any special occasion since the pandemic hit. With COVID hitting my family, my husband being gone yet another year, and my financial situation not being what it is supposed to be, more burdens have been added to an already challenging situation. I’ve talked to many women who are also dealing with the stresses of being a single mom and providing for their children, while at the same time trying to keep their kids safe and healthy. Many of us are feeling the struggles of this ongoing cycle. And wouldn’t you know that God is so faithful – during my morning Bible reading and devotional time, He spoke to me through His word and reminded me how wonderful and loving He really is. In Psalm 143, David is praying to God for guidance and deliverance from his pain. David too was depressed and overwhelmed by his circumstances. In verse 4 (NKJV), it reads: “Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed.” This is exactly how I feel. I can relate to how overwhelmed and anxious David was feeling when he wrote this. In the next four verses, God spoke to my heart and showed me how I needed to think about the positive of my situation, not the negative.
Verse 5 (MSG): “I remember the old days, went over all you’ve done, pondered the ways you’ve worked.”
God was reminding me to remember all He has done for me. He pulled me out of self-destructive behavior, He restored my marriage, and He continues to provide for all of my needs, even through a pandemic.
Verse 6 (TPT): “Now I’m reaching out to you, thirsting for you like the dry, cracked ground thirsts for rain.”
As we raise our hands to God and worship Him, it will bring a calmness and peace to our soul. There is power in singing to our Heavenly Father. It doesn’t just have to be in church that we worship. We can be riding in the car or at home. Anytime we worship God, we get refreshment for our soul.
Verse 7 (TPT): “Lord, come quickly and answer me, for my depression deepens and I’m about to give up. Don’t leave me now or I’ll die!”
Cry out to God in your times of hurt, loneliness, depression, and worry. Ask God for help in these trying times. He is waiting and ready to hear our needs.
Verse 8 (NKJV): “Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.”
This is one of my favorite scriptures and one I need to continually remind myself to do. Every day we need to hear from God. We do this by opening our Bible and reading how our Father is guiding us. We need to remember all God has done for us, we need to worship Him, we need to pray for help, and we need to trust God and listen to His guidance in how to walk our journey with Him.
2020 was a stressful year, and while I still have situations to contend with in 2021, my soul, my heart, and my mind need to be first and foremost focused on God and all He has done and will do in my life.
“But the Lord is faithful and he will strengthen you and protect you from evil.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV
