When I wake up to the limitations of the same old day with the same problems as yesterday, Your joy is my encouragement and inspiration.
When I look ahead to the overwhelming work needing to be done, You remind me it isn’t all up to me—that I can entrust my life and all it contains to You.
When I seem to be running from the demons of my past as they frighten me and threaten to keep me locked up in prison forever, You free me and empower me to fly.
When my prayer is the same, day after day, with nothing seeming to change, Your patience and tender care are with me, keeping me looking to You.
When my weakness shouts that I can’t go on, Your quiet strength lifts me and carries me forward.
When the distractions of daily life try to tell me it’s all hopeless, focusing on You keeps me grounded and hopeful.
When I forget to come to You for all I need for the millionth time today, Your love wraps around me, telling me that You know my limitations, You still love me, and You are so glad I have returned.
When I look at the waves around me and decide all must be lost as I sink into the despair that wants to end me, You catch my hand and pull me back to standing, looking into your face and walking in the impossible.
Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen, though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I’m king of the mountain! Habakkuk 3:17-19
I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry. He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path. A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see his miracles; they’ll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him! Psalm 40:1-3