I did not know how much I would need the word trust when I chose it (or did it choose me?) as my #Oneword365 in December of 2021. There have been several seasons during this year, when I wanted to panic, or I wanted to sink into despair. The word trust reminded me that even during periods of times that I could not see the path forward, that God was still on the throne. I can trust Him. I needed to trust God as this year brought very big changes in my life. God showed me His love and grace, by dear friends and loved ones literally showing up for my children and me, being his hands and feet. They shined God's light and love when I felt overwhelmed. As an auditory processor, music comforts and encourages me. I am going to share a few of the songs that I played and replayed this year.
"In my worry, God You are my stillness. In my blindness, God you are my vision. In my weakness, God You are my power."
These are words that I needed to remind myself of daily, sometimes hourly. This song encourages me to release my worries and fears to God and remember that God is at work, even when situations seem impossible.
During difficult times, I need to remember the times that I have seen "God make a way when there was no way." God is the God of the impossible. Luke 1:37 "For nothing will be impossible with God.” When things seem impossible, I need to look to God. The word impossible is not in His vocabulary.
A year ago, when I chose the word trust, "Trust in You" by Lauren Diagle was a song that I knew would greatly encourage me this year. Similar to the song "God of All My Days" the bridge of this song is the most impactful, and something I preach to myself often.
"You are my strength and comfort. You are my steady hand.
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher. Your plans are always good
There's not a place where I'll go, You've not already stood"
I was tempted to close this post with my thoughts about, "Trust in You". without sharing how difficult trusting has been for me this year. I have walked through a season of grief. Actually saying, I walked through it, probably isn't accurate. I tried my best to ignore my grief, but I found when I was ignoring it, that it would come out sideways at inopportune times. It is much better to share my feelings of grief with God, pouring my heart out to Him. These lyrics from the Casting Crowns song "Oh My Soul" have been very inspiring to me.
"Here and now, you can be honest
I won't try to promise
That someday it all works out
'Cause this is the valley
And even now He is breathing on
Your dry bones and there will be dancing
There will be beauty where beauty was
Ash and stone. This much I know."
Psalms 27:13 AMP
13I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the LordIn the land of the living.
The above verse is another that I need to remember on days that I do not see the path forward. Trusting is believing that I will see the goodness of God. "Your goodness is running after me." One of the lessons that I am learning this year, that I want to carry with me into 2023, is that no matter what the path ahead looks like to keep looking to Jesus the author and finisher of my faith. "Twas grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will bring me home."
Did you have a #Oneword365? What lessons are you carrying with you into 2023?
Thank you for sharing these brilliant songs and how they have helped you this year. I like your definition from the Psalms that trusting is 'believing that we will yet see the goodness of God'. May you know that peace in believing.
Jolene, thank you for sharing these songs. They speak to me, as well.
As we now are inching towards the New Year, I get lazy, and I think my chosen word's Meshuggah, which means 'crazy' in Yiddish patois, of course, describes nation for me; it don't put cart before the horse to say insanity is the hallmark of these years (what, fifty-seven genders?), when someone's taken our worst fears and put them in a blender to make our country laughingstock, the dumbest kid upon the block.
This was a beautiful way to be a witness of God's grace, mercy, and faithfulness to you this past year! May you keep holding onto Jesus for He is holding onto you and will never let go!
Thank you so much for sharing such a vulnerable part of your walk this year! I love to think about choosing one word that i can come back to again and again each day! I love the verse that we can see his goodness now in the land of the living! https://daisydronen.food.blog/2022/12/18/witness/
My Dad has nicknamed my youngest child “Sunshine.” She reminds me to slow down and smell flowers, literally, and she likes to take pictures of them too. Her eldest sibling inspires me to try new things, and she challenges me to broaden my perspective. Their brother teaches me something new daily, and asks his teachers when they are going to learn about higher level science topics such as physics. My children truly are my sunshine on a cloudy day. They are my laughter and dancing. My art and the music in my home. Right now, they are on the other side of the country visiting their Dad during Summer break. I hope that they each realize how much joy they bring to my life. I will close with the classic song, “My Girl”, but I feel this way about all of my kids nor just my girls. Do you have someone in your life that reminds you of sunshine?
“That’s a possibility.”,is one of my Dad’s favorite phrases. Ever since I was a little girl I would run and ask my Daddy all sorts of what if questions. His answer most often has been, “That’s a possibility.” Too many possibilities often leaves me with decision fatigue. I want make the right choice. I have made bad choices before, and I want to choose what is best for me and my children. This the reason that I love Emily Freeman’s advice, “Do the next right thing in love.” Breaking decisions down to one choice at a time halts the train of “what if” thinking and makes the decision making process more manageable. I want to view possibilities positively and not as something scary or overwhelming. Do possibilities excite you or scare you? Have you ever felt decision fatigue? I would love to read your thoughts in the comments.
My Dad has been keeping pretty busy over the last Month or so. My parents and I have both packed up our homes and moved to two different places in the past month. My Dad told his boss, “I come to work to get some rest from lifting boxes and moving furniture.” This move has been a labor of love for my parents, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them or the help of my siblings, their spouses and my nephew. I am reminded of when I was pregnant with my first child. Since I love working with children, I thought parenting would come naturally to me. I didn’t know then that parenting takes work, especially to be the parent that each of my children individually need. Their needs have changed greatly as they walk through the threshold of childhood and step into adolescence. One thing that has proven to be true about motherhood is that it is the hardest job that I will ever love. I am so thankful that as a single Mom, I can find wisdom and rest...
Thank you for sharing these brilliant songs and how they have helped you this year. I like your definition from the Psalms that trusting is 'believing that we will yet see the goodness of God'. May you know that peace in believing.
ReplyDeleteJolene, thank you for sharing these songs. They speak to me, as well.
ReplyDeleteAs we now are inching towards
the New Year, I get lazy,
and I think my chosen word's
Meshuggah, which means 'crazy'
in Yiddish patois, of course,
describes nation for me;
it don't put cart before the horse
to say insanity
is the hallmark of these years
(what, fifty-seven genders?),
when someone's taken our worst fears
and put them in a blender
to make our country laughingstock,
the dumbest kid upon the block.
This was a beautiful way to be a witness of God's grace, mercy, and faithfulness to you this past year! May you keep holding onto Jesus for He is holding onto you and will never let go!
ReplyDeletemay you come out on the otherside of grief seeing God's hand more clearly. Trust helps us do that. May you continue to build it securely. :) FMF10
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing such a vulnerable part of your walk this year! I love to think about choosing one word that i can come back to again and again each day! I love the verse that we can see his goodness now in the land of the living! https://daisydronen.food.blog/2022/12/18/witness/
ReplyDelete