Sometimes I sit down to write and five days turn into five weeks when the sickness and weariness go long and the days are short.
Sometimes all it takes is five seconds to forget – from one breath to the next – that God has sustained this far and will continue to do so. And in those five pin pricks of time, well then, that is when the discouragement creeps and says “It isn’t enough…YOU aren’t enough.”
But here’s the truth: that voice of discouragement is both right, and terribly, awfully wrong (Praise God!). It’s true that I’m not enough, but…BUT…I don’t have to be enough. GOD IS ENOUGH and when I am at my weakest, he shows his strength to be most beautiful and right.
And into these struggles fall the crazy but normal business of little kids (some of whom are suddenly not so little), my first engagement speaking at a women’s retreat (!), another writing assignment, and of course, the random child who stamped the name “Chase” on the family room window sill and refuses to confess.
Keep finding joy…
Keep breathing…
Keep remembering that He is enough…
Keep letting go of all the moments I think I have to be strong…
During an incredible weekend spent with some amazing Christian women at their retreat, I got to address some of these feelings and scratch the surface of what God has been teaching me in regards to living in authentic community with himself and others. Here’s just a hot second on applying what He gives us in suffering and love equally (the vertical) into our relationships and interactions with others (the horizontal):
“The concept of GRACEFULNESS is a necessary balm for the open and honest life. I’m not talking about the ability to walk without tripping, but rather, a GRACE-FILLED life – graciousness, really. Ephesians 4:29 takes us through what our speech should look like with others – nothing unwholesome, things that edify – GIVING GRACE TO THOSE WHO HEAR. Think of those around you almost like an immune compromised cancer survivor – it doesn’t take much to inflict damage and pain. Being authentic frees us in AMAZING ways, but it also makes us very, very vulnerable, and to this end, we bless and encourage each other to remain open by grace-filled treatment of one another. 1 Corinthians reminds us that love “bears all things, believes all things, and endures all things”. Think about applying this to your weekly interactions with others. Do you believe the best of others? Do you have the ability to see them or interact with them outside your pre-conceived notions? Practicing graceful living is a crucial part of Spirit-filled living and will help encourage an atmosphere of authenticity in any community because we will genuinely, dramatically be attempting to see each other the way Christ sees us: not without faults, but precious in the redemption plan all the same.”
So back to your regularly scheduled programming, and somehow, even though five seconds turned into five days and then five weeks, my heart is full because God is love, he is enough, and this sustains the next breath.
I hope as you progress in this already passing-too-quick week, you are encouraged to find his strength enough to help you and that you find ways to live in authentic community with others and the ONE who loves you best.
Moment by moment.
**If you are interested in having Ellie speak at an event, please contact her by email at ellieewoldt@gmail.com**