The past few months David and I have been extremely busy personally. Honestly, I haven’t had very much time to study or just spend with God. I was sitting down to write this and thought to myself “What do I even have to give?” I know I can’t give what I don’t have.
God spoke to my heart and asked me, “How have you been able to sustain yourself in this chaotic season?”
I thought about this for a minute. In such chaos and busyness, it would be understandable if I was burnt out and stressed out, but I’m not. I’m at peace in the storm, and what a good place that is to be.
So what has sustained this peace?
It definitely hasn’t been how much I’ve been studying my Bible, how much time I’ve spent in prayer, or how much worship I’ve been able to bring God.
It is, however, the awareness that without Him I have nothing.
“In such chaos and busyness it would be understandable if I was burnt out and stressed out, but I’m not. I’m at peace in the storm...”
Nothing.
Awareness of His grace, presence, and love.
I almost felt like in writing this I should think of a different word than sustain. It's tempting to be embarrassed that others will see me as only sustaining and as not thriving or growing. But God spoke to my heart the word sustain when He said, “How have you been able to sustain yourself in this chaotic season?”
I’m realizing only now while writing this that maybe I have grown. Growth isn’t always based on a Divine revelation. Sometimes growth is having the storm beat down on you from all sides and being able to stand with your eyes fixed solely on Jesus.
I have never in my life felt more close to the Father than I do right now. I wake up and think of Him, I’m in my car and instantly start to worship Him, I’m cooking and praying in the Holy Spirit. I realize that my relationship with Him isn’t dependent on just reading my Bible but my time with Him as I go throughout my day.
In my feeling of discouragement, I heard Him simply say “So what if you haven’t had as much time to study or spend only focused on Me. I value the fact that you have been so busy and in that busyness you have leaned into My grace to make it, that daily you’ve sought Me to be your strength.”
“Sometimes growth is having the storm beat down on you from all sides and being able to stand with your eyes fixed solely on Jesus.”
Being able to be sustained is growth. It means that you are in contact against something that is opposing you, and yet you are able to persevere and keep His peace in your heart.
So many believers struggle when hardships come. Sometimes we just feel unworthy, myself included. I know it sounds stupid, but I was even feeling unworthy to write this tonight because I didn’t feel full enough.
I think we should all stay a little hungry. It keeps us on our toes. Keeps us coming back to Him for more.
Let's learn how to weather any storm with Him at our side.
Keep Him close and the storm will be way less severe. He can’t promise us there won’t be storms but He does promise us that He will be with us in the midst of it all, and if He is with us then so is all of His benefits. Peace, grace, light, love, and whatever you need can be found in Him.
Be aware of Him throughout your day.
By Grace,
Shellby Nalette
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