“Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.”—Psalm 31:16 (NLT)
On Tuesday morning, Psalm 31:16 was in one of my morning devotions. Little did I know how much I was going to need it over the next few days.
After a much-needed five-day girls getaway at the beach in Florida, Monday night when I landed back home, my laryngitis that I had nearly my whole trip didn’t seem to be getting better. I feel pretty sure with all the green pollen flying around in the air, it is allergy induced. As I type this eight days later, I still don’t have my voice back to normal. I did get a few prescriptions, so it does seem to gradually be improving.
In addition to having my laundry to sort and wash, I also had a week worth of my mom’s as well. On top of that, Sunday evening before I was flying home, as I was flossing my teeth, my crown popped off my tooth. Thankfully, while at the airport the following morning, the dentist had a cancellation the next day.
Since our long-time dentist isn’t currently practicing, I was in the process of finding a dentist closer to our home. However, I needed to go to the practice that had all my records. This meant between drive time and the office visit, that was three hours of my day.
I am super type A and like to get all my laundry done ASAP after a trip. It was so hard for me to walk by all the piles knowing getting my tooth fixed was my priority. I also needed to stop by mom’s to drop off some items she had run out of while I was gone.
Because I wasn’t sure if I was contagious or not, I wanted to limit my interaction with my mother. To avoid phone calls, I told both her and her boyfriend I couldn’t stay because I was going to get my tooth fixed and would be unavailable for a few hours.
Unfortunately, neither of them remembered the conversation. As I am sitting in the dentist chair (about an hour after I saw them) my phone kept ringing. Both my mom and her boyfriend had left me multiple messages about her “horrible” manicure. My mother’s message was, I don’t ask much of you, but my nails look awful, and I need you to take me out for a manicure today.
When I finally answered her 10th phone call on my way home, my response to her was not one that exuded love and kindness. I pretty much lost it with her. I did feel bad. I apologized for losing my temper and told her I was just frustrated with all her phone calls and I was trying to limit my talking.
The following morning, I could barely talk. It was my knitting day but didn’t need to be straining my voice. I stayed home feeling sorry for myself. I said to God, I don’t know how much longer I can take this with my mom. She is wearing me out. Then I felt guilty for even saying it.
Later that day, I got a sweet text from one of the ladies in the knitting group checking on me. I told her I was in a bit of a funk. I was listening to the voices of doubt and feelings of inadequacy affect me. I told her what was going on and she said, this seems to happen a lot to people around the Holy days.
Wow, I hadn’t even thought about that. The same day a friend invited my husband and I to a Good Friday service. I knew that was God intervening. He wasn’t going to let the enemy get a foothold on my mind. God kept giving me nuggets throughout my day to ward off the enemy’s attacks.
The one that I needed the most was the devotion about rest being a gift from God. I needed Wednesday to rest. I had finished all my laundry after my dentist visit on Tuesday. I wasn’t prioritizing resting. The enemy knows we are weakest when we are exhausted. God provided me a full day to truly rest.
God’s Word tells us to take a stand against the schemes of the enemy. Discouragement and doubt are just some of his tools. Satan is a liar and wants to steal our peace. We need to be alert and prepared. I started to fall into his trap last week, but thankfully God showed His sovereignty over the situation and drew me back to the Holy Week. The Good Friday service called The Cross, was one of the most moving church services I have been to in a good while.
I love seeing how God moves in our lives to bring us back to Him. We do nothing to deserve it, but in His love, grace and mercy, He puts people in our lives to point us back to his precious Son, Jesus.
Father God
Thank You for shining Your favor upon me and rescuing me with Your unfailing love this week. You healed my broken spirit and gave me the needed rest to be refreshed for Easter weekend. I know You are sovereign over every situation. Forgive me when I listen to the voices of doubt and feelings of inadequacy. I ask You to shut out those thoughts when they enter my mind. You are faithful when I am faithless. Help me to walk cheerfully during the trying moments. Thank You for friendships that encourage and lift me up when I am down. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
April Verse
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”—John 14:6 (NASB)
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