When life feels like a freight train
coming at me too fast
to escape,
I am grateful
for the ability
to weave
my small self
into Your grandeur
and hold on tight
to the mystery
that unites
my little story
with Your eternal one
that takes everything into account
and leaves no one
behind.
Your strength becomes my own,
and I borrow your power
to stand
in the Light
and watch the darkness derail
before it can touch
my soul.
“In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world.” – Jesus
For Christmas, my husband and I surprised our kids with a very sweet new puppy, who my two-year-old both loved and had a natural trepidation of. When she saw him running up toward her, I noticed how she wove herself into my leg to make herself look big to protect herself in case he would jump up on her. She knew I would protect her.
Being her protector in that moment made me think of Jesus and how in prayer, we are able to weave our small selves into His vast eternal presence to make ourselves bigger and more capable of standing up to potential threats. We can trust in Him to protect us.
To a toddler, even a joyful puppy is a real threat because it can knock her down or even bite her.
As adults living on planet earth in 2020, we may be facing much bigger threats to our livelihoods, health and relationships, but truly compared to the infinite power of God, any threat we face is as harmless as a bouncy puppy.
We can trust in Jesus to be the refuge, fortress and strength of our souls no matter what dark situations life throws at us. Even beyond life on this earth, we can count on God to protect the most essential parts of us eternally.
Romans 8 28-37
“And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God— and He is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What threatening situation are you facing right now? How does your story of struggle link with God’s greater story of life, death and resurrection through Jesus? How does your faith in a higher power strengthen you to face life’s challenges? Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to keep you in my prayers.
Lord when life feels overwhelming, help us remember we can trust in You for protection of the most essential parts of ourselves. Teach us to weave our struggles and sorrows into the fabric of your own so we can also live into the fullness of Your joy and glory. Give us the grace to live the full abundant life of faith and trust in You through good times and bad. Strengthen us by the Light of Your Love to face our trials with grace and integrity. In Jesus name, we pray.
written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 12/29/2020