Read His Words Before Ours!
Lamentations 3:55-60
Psalm 150:6
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Can I be honest with you sweet sisters for a minute?
The last year of my life has brought forth some of the hardest, darkest, days I’ve walked thus far.
I’ve shared with you bits and pieces of my story as we’ve journeyed together over the last twelve months, yet behind the scenes I’ve been in a long rollercoaster battle. Most days you wouldn’t have been able to tell anything was wrong, but deep down, the Lord was taking me on a journey.
You see, this time last year I was positive my marriage was over,
my family destroyed,
and life as I know it would never be the same.
I have spent time on my face crying out to God, asking Him what I had done to deserve such heartache, why my life was nothing that I ever imagined it to be, and how was I going to pick up the shattered pieces of my life and put them back together.
And while each question was spewed with anger and hurt,
His Word was fueled with comfort and understanding.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
“Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
I’ve found comfort in the darkest moments of my life by meditating on His Word. I spent one evening during the beginning of this season typing out Scriptures that I have since taped to every nook and cabinet in our apartment. I desperately wanted a tangible way to ensure that as I went about life, when the hurt, bitterness, and sadness would make its way to the surface, I would immediately be reminded of what God’s word declares.
As the season navigated towards healing,
then restoration,
and now redemption is on the horizon,
I felt a tug at my heart.
It was time to turn on the music.
It’s a running joke around here in the GT Community that if there is a journey that includes worship in any capacity, I’m probably going to jump at the chance to write about it. You see, worship has saved my life, on more accounts than one, and this season was no different, I just needed to be reminded.
I had just hopped in my car one Wednesday after work when I got the courage to hit play. I turned on the new Housefires worship album and by the chorus of the song the tears began to fall.
“Mountain to Valley”
Hope you will lead the way
Peace you will be my strength
To sing in the midst of storms
And believe in Your goodness, Lord
From the mountain to the valley
From the desert to the raging sea
In the silence or the city streets
Oh Your presence always covers me
You take me in, you lead me out,
Such a journey walking with You now
When I don’t know what steps to take
When I don’t know what moves to make
This one thing I can’t escape
Your love
When I don’t have the words to say
When I can’t seem to find my way
This one thing I can’t escape
Your love
I felt as if the worship artists had spoken to Jesus about what was going on behind the closed doors of my heart and wrote this specifically for me in this season.
His peace and love was all my soul craved.
Peace in the midst of the darkest storm I was walking through.
In a season that lacked love, feeling His loving Abba Father arms around me helped break down the hardened parts of my soul, and allowed them to be mended back together by the King of Kings.
It was in that moment, when I lifted my arms in my car, and began to soak in His presence, letting the worship wash over my soul, that redemption ran free.
Can I encourage you today?
Even in the midst of such sorrow and pain,
God is still good,
and His grace is enough.
He wasn’t, and isn’t, finished with my marriage.
My husband and I are doing better than we ever have, and that I truly believe it’s because we’ve invested time, prayers, and tears into our personal relationship with Jesus.
We’ve worshiped and praised our Heavenly Father.
We’ve sought after wise counsel and had armor bearers rally beside us, making sure we weren’t left behind.
He is with us just the same whether it be the mountain top or valley.
Those dark moments crave the Light, so start praising Jesus today, my sweet friends.
He is worthy, and deserves it all.
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Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship II Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Worship II!
God bless you for your testimony. I am at w place of waiting on God and hearing that He came through for you gives me hope.
He’s always faithful – be encouraged, Sister!
Thank you for sharing – lifting you up today
Yes His grace is made perfect in the midst of every storm that tends to weaken us.
Just mind-blowing incredible that He delights in showing His perfect strength when we are at our weakest! What Love!
Yes it is! Sometimes it’s hard to remember, but when we grasp onto this truth– what a beautiful thing it is.
I so needed this today. Yesterday my husbands car broke down, the doctor said he needed emergency surgery on his back, but couldn’t the process to get him to the surgeon fell flat, the insurance doesn’t want to cover it, and I have a terrible migraine. It’s just one of those days when you cry out to God that it’s just too much. But in the end I keep coming back to the fact that God is good – He is in control and we can trust in Him. It’s a lot to handle, but with God all things are… Read more »
Wow, those are big things, Heather!
We will be praying for you and lifting you and your husband up.
Send us a PM through our Facebook page and let us know how you are doing.
https://www.facebook.com/gracefullytruthful/
“He is in control and we can trust Him.”
There is no more solid truth to stake our lives on!
Heather– We’re praying for you. God is a good, good Father, and as you said, we can trust in Him, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Please keep us updated.
Sweet sister. I’m lifting you and your people up this week. Father, You know what we need before we can even ask. Show Your mighty hand at work in every area of Heather’s life this week. Release supernatural healing in her husband’s back and her migraine headaches, guidance and wisdom as they navigate these challenges. Prepare the way for divine favor with the insurance company and provision for transportation. We love and praise You.
Isn’t it amazing how God can take something we feel is beyond fixing and repair it better than it originally was. Praise God!
We worship a compassionate, redeeming God! Thank you for journeying with us, Kristi – blessings!
Hi Sara, this is my first time on your site. Your post goes deep. I too have walked through dark times, but it’s in the midst of dark, that His light can shine the brightest. God longs to put His glory on display in our lives, and it’s in our weakness that He shows Himself strong. Your testimony is such a beautiful example of that. Our God is so big; and He gives us beauty for ashes. Thank you for being transparent, and for being a shining example of God’s faithfulness. (I, too, am a worshipper! We should chat!)
Alicia, I love how you said He “longs to put His glory on display in our lives.” What an incredible thought – that He – Whom in all His glory could display it in anything… yet He longs to display it through us. Amazing!
Hi Alicia– Thank you so much for journeying with us today, we’re so glad that you’re here! I’m humbled that you got so much out of the study today. It’s an honor to share about my life. I would love to chat! Shoot me an e-mail: SaraC@gracefullytruthful.com
Thank you for sharing your testimony of God’s presence in the darkest of times! While we dislike those hard times, they bring the most faith growth and dependence on God!
We just can’t escape that truth, can we? How precious that He loves us so deeply to shape us more like Himself even in hardship!
It’s so true. They are the hardest, yet most rewarding times.
Worship is such a great way to renew your strength. Thanks so much for sharing! I love this!
There is no other source of true renewal, is there? Love that His well runs so deep. Thanks for sharing from your heart, sweet Sara. Be blessed this week, Holly!
Yes it is! It’s an honor to share a piece of my journey with you, Holly. Thanks for reading.
The Bible is my mainstay. God always has something in store for me. Love the post.
Amen! Our mainstay and our anchor! Thank you for journeying with us, Sister!
Exactly, Alice! It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read the same passage of scripture, I’m always so surprised by what The Lord reveals to me. His Word is timeless.
I love your last lines, “Those dark moments crave the Light, so start praising Jesus today, my sweet friends.
He is worthy, and deserves it all.” Those words give me such powerful imagery. Thank you for sharing your heart so that others can see how God pours out His love for us!
Love this! Thanks for sharing a piece of your heart Journey, Melissa!
Thank you for taking time to read this, Melissa, and thank you for sharing what stood out to you! <3
Thank you for sharing such an intimate place in your heart! What an encouragement to hear some of your story…In our weakness we are made strong through Him!
Amazing what the Lord does with transparency!
Amen, Danielle!
The Lord takes each of us on a journey, and I would be so deeply saddened if someone were to think that they were alone going through a similar circumstance.. us sisters have to join together! We are made strong in Him!
In my darkest times, I have worshiped God through praise, and it has helped me get through the heartache.
Thank you for sharing, Susan!
Bless you, Sister!
Amen, Susan.
I love how open you are in sharing your story! God is definitely doing a great work in your life, and it is evident in the way you write about Him. Thank you for sharing and for blessing many of us with the Holy Spirit through your writing!
Transparency is so encouraging, isn’t it?! Love Sara’s willingness to be vulnerable in order to showcase what God is doing in and through her!
Isn’t it awesome how opening up and sharing our stories can give so much life…to others and ourselves? Thank you for being vulnerable with us, Sara!
Thank you so much, Hannah. This one wasn’t the easiest to write, which is how I knew the Holy Spirit was guiding my keys and I was supposed to share it. I’m so blessed that it has touched you.
Hope will always lead the way and God’s word will get you through any and all storms. Thank you for sharing your journey!
How precious indeed is His word, Keisha!
Beautiful, life-giving hope!
Amen. I can’t imagine where I would be without His Word.