So we’re all quarantined. It’s only been a week or so, but it already feels like old news. Everyone’s itching to get outside and fellowship with family and friends freely; my household is no different! My husband’s birthday is this week and I’m trying to plan something low key, but under all the constraints it seems I’m going to have to step outside the box a little bit.*
At times these constraints can seem a little overwhelming and maybe even scary. If you’re not careful about how you decide to spend this time you may find yourself to be one of the people panicking; repeating Psalm 91 to yourself but never really feeling at peace, desperately declaring healing verses, maybe even ignoring everything and pretending that you’ll be fine if you just stay inside for 8 weeks and play by all the rules.**
I know this because THAT WAS ME PEOPLE. For two days I really struggled. I was talking to God without listening, halfheartedly writing down verses and feeling like I was missing something. I could not seem to get any kind of stability from the word of God and I had no idea why. So I woke up one morning and immediately sat up in my bed, put out my bible and notebook and told God I was sitting there until He told me what was up. He led me to the following verse and it totally turned me around,
James 4:8
Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you.
It was so simple – I was not drawing near to the Lord, I was withdrawing from Him out of fear. Looking for answers in my works. It’s hard not to when all you see on social media is either verses out of context or depressing news announcements. It can be so confusing when you lose sight of why we confess healing scriptures in the first place and proclaim the name of Jesus in the face of adversity.
But God gave me this verse and woke me up. My answers were IN Him, IN His presence. I was missing that aspect – the intimacy with my Father that makes my world go ‘round. I was doing the right things and feeling empty, but God says that in Him is FULNESS (Ephesians 3:19) not emptiness.
So how do you draw near to God? The same way you draw near to other people! You prioritize time with them, ask questions with the intent of listening, and open yourself up, be vulnerable! Make time and space for Him in your day and set yourself on sturdy ground.
I just wanted to share this to say that if you share this sentiment at all, don’t be embarrassed!! If you feel lost or devoid of peace, do yourself a favor and admit you’re struggling. Bring it to God and make yourself vulnerable. You can only find the answer and fix the problem if you’re willing to admit that you are not perfect and humble yourself. That’s what drawing near to Him means, anyway!
If you are feeling a little lost like I was or just looking for the next step in learning how to dwell in the land, let me leave you with this:
Psalm 27:8
When you said, “Seek my face,”
My heart said to you, “Your face Lord, I will seek.”
Seek His face and He will always reveal Himself to you, ask Him for answers and listen! Have a blessed quarantine my friends.
*I will prevail – already some ideas in the works that I’ll share in a few days 😉
**None of these behaviors are behaviors of the righteous children of God, they are totally devoid of freedom! (Psalm 18:19 – God also brought me out into a broad place, a place of freedom; He delivered me because he delighted in me)
❤️❤️❤️ loved it