Stop Running From Your Awakening.

I know it’s hard. I know your sorrow and suffering has grown from days to weeks to months to years, and you often lose hope for an opening in the deep clouds of your reality. I see you, and I know it’s hard to keep your head up and to keep pressing forward in faith. I know you feel like you can’t talk or share your hurt because you’re supposed to be the strong one that never wanes in your joy and dedication to Jesus.

But here’s the thing. What if this time of brokenness is where you're meant to be? What if this time is leading you to what the Lord has for you? Just think for a second. In your journey with pain, you have walked the line of doubt and fear, and, through that, you still chose Jesus and His promises. I think God was teaching you something there and is orchestrating something in you even now. 

While you sat on the floor of your bathroom or bedroom weeping, asking God, “Why me? I’m so tired of hurting,” he whispered to you to hold on, to trust him and experience the fullness of who he is. So, you march on. 

A deeper relationship is forming in those moments. You are seeing more of the heart of God, and there is nothing sorrowful about that. No, that is something powerfully beautiful. If you don’t see that now, friend, let me stop here and metaphorically reach through your screen and grab your hand. Praise is coming; it’s forming its melody in your soul and will soon rise. Welcome it and freely worship, because those are your fighting words.

With worship on your lips and trust in your heart, Satan’s attempt to wreck our faith loses any hold. Use your fighting words of praise every moment. Count the joy in every battle because Jesus is there, and He is bringing you to your awakening.

Let's try not to rush these seasons. Let's embrace them. Because, in the trials, we are learning to live broken, open, and reliant on Jesus. Our brokenness and open hearts are a tender ground being planted with seeds of grace and patience, meant to be shared and learned. Let's be courageous and share with the world that, though broken, you are full of life and joy because Jesus is with you, and He has a reason for everything.

words by Joy Payne and photo by Shelby Bauer