It is well
What do you do when you are laid low in the dust and your soul is weary with sorrow?
I have been struggling.
It’s been hard to write. It has been hard to pray. I have not wanted to engage or connect with others. Old fears, lack of trust, and questions have returned and plagued my mind and sleep.
The mended places in my heart have been ripping open, and it is painful. I have been knocked flat, thrown off track, and it is all beyond my control.
Surrender doesn’t always come easy.
When I am laid low in the dust and my soul is weary with sorrow, there are three things that help:
1) Pray: Sometimes, just coming across a sentence in scripture and making that my prayer is powerful.
2) Praise: Music has a way of connecting with deep places in me. I made a playlist called Healing Moments, and I take it with me and refer to it often. Hope Will Rise by Warr Acres {<—-Click to listen} is such a powerful declaration to encourage my heart.
3) Proclaim Truth: Pray for God to give you a verse and cling to that hope and proclaim it often. Create an image out of it, carry it on an index card, or tape it to a mirror. Be reminded of His promises to you! Luke 8:50 has been my verse. Just recently, I woke up and read my Bible Plan, turned on Pandora and started to finally pray out loud in the shower. Just as I was stepping out into the silent steam, a song began to play. I had never heard this version before but I knew the lyrics well.
The song was “It Is Well” by Lauren Daigle. As it played, I remembered sitting on my counselors couch three years ago and telling her it would never be well. Then, I remembered standing at a conference 6 months ago in tears knowing and believing that it TRULY is well.
And here I am, now. Laid low and weary with sorrow. It is a new trial and this is a new song, but the truth remains: It is well. It may not feel well, but it is well. It will be well.
Pray even if it is only a groan.
Praise especially when it hurts.
Proclaim truth and cling to His promises.
Can you trust Him? Whisper yes, and know… whatever it is, it is well.
What do you do when you are laid low in the dust and your soul is weary with sorrow? Share a prayer, song, or truth that helped you through a season or trial in your life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTph9vgGTo8
Linking up with: Jennifer Dukes Lee
I just love you Michelle. Your tender heart, your tranparancy, and your oh so sweet spirit.
I love you too, Ellen. So thankful for your encouragement and prayers. It means so much. Thank you, my CC sister.
There are times when I’m so weary on the battlefield but I don’t leave. Instead, I lay down in a trench, pull the shield of faith over me, and ask Jesus to pray for me. Other times, I write out scripture in long hand. My soul seems to loss it tightness as my hand glides across the paper with the rolling ink pen with the Word of God leading the way.
Michelle, you’re so special. I’m glad you are taking care of you even when you’re down by showing yourself with Christian songs and pausing in Christ’s presence even without a prayer. No matter what He hears your heartbeat and your spirit weeping. I’m praying for you, dear friend. Trust on.
Thank you so much Carolyn. I love how you describe the writing out scripture… it is so soothing and comforting. I really appreciate your prayers. You are so precious to me. <3
I love how He sent you those songs💗
This made me think of a quote a friend printed onto a little card and shared with me (from the book Keeping a Princess Heart in a Not so Fairytale World.)
“The King entrusted this princess heart with a very powerful truth: All shall be well, And all shall be well, And all manner of things shall be well.
In the midst of the unexplainable, in the injustice of all that is unfair, in the sadness of everything that is left incomplete, there is peace in the hopeful unassuming assurance…All shall be well.
No woman living today knows when it will be well or how it will be well, but every daughter of the King can believe it will be well. Just as He has named us His daughters, just as he has sent us the Prince of Peace, just has He has kept every vow He’s ever made in the past, he also declared to the heavens…And all shall be well.
What we can do is trust the King to do as He promised. Just as we have trusted Him with our names and our hearts, we can commit ourselves to trust Him with the ending….And all manner of things shall be well.
Praying for you! Praying with you-all shall be well! Love u💗
Thank you Sarah, I love that – All shall be well! Thank you so much for sharing it. Love you too.
Don’t give up on yourself…I’m praying I don’t either…give up because of comparing myself to others. Let’s pray together for each other to be courageous and to believe in our worth.
Praying with you Lisa. Keep going, keep believing. Yes, He makes us worthy and unique. So very thankful for your encouragement! Blessings to you!
Thank you, Michelle. Your trust in Jesus overflows into my life and helps me more than you know. Love you, friend.
Love you too, Renee. You are such a blessing to me. You have encouraged me along the way more than you will ever know, my friend. Thank you, and maybe a road trip soon? 🙂
Thank you for sharing this…in the dark places and weariness! I am on this path at the moment as well and struggling daily, weekly, even hourly some days. Thank you for putting your fingers to the keyboard to type this out….I am praying to get back to that point (and I will eventually–as you said ‘it is Well’ and it will be well!) You are an inspiration!! 🙂
Thank you so much. I am praying for you too, Angela – I know it has been a hard time for you. It WILL be well, friend. It will indeed. Thank you for encouraging me. I miss you!
Sorry you’re struggling at the moment, Michelle. It is hard when old wounds hurt again. I agree with your tips for getting through those times. Holding onto the truth no matter how we feel is so important and I think being honest with God in prayer and with others (as you do here) really helps. I also find music really helpful too. This song is one I listened to a lot at a time when I was struggling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV81bvG-oK0 It reminds me that God is always there and that he understands, even in the hard times. Praying for you!
Carly, Thank you so much for sharing that song! I just added it to my playlist. LOVE IT. I loved Stand In the Rain, but I have never heard this song before! Thank you so much for being here, and for sharing. You are a blessing and your words are so inspiring. Praying for you, too!
I’m so sorry those wounded places are ripping open again, Michelle. My heart aches for you. I find that sometimes if there are deep trials where I feel so helpless to change it, that feeling of being out of control triggers past memories of when I felt so helpless because of abuse. I love the songs, especially that version of It Is Well. And yes, “she WILL be healed.” Such a comforting verse. May God give you strength and peace for each day and healing wherever it is needed! Hugs to you, my friend!
Thank you so much, Trudy. Your prayers and love have been such an encouragement to me. I am so thankful for you. Praying for deeper healing for us. Big hugs to you, Michelle
Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” John 14:27
This is one of my favorite verses, it can relate to a multitude of circumstances. I also listen to K-Love to help me rredirect my thoughts to the the goodness that is our Father God. I have found myself needing to lean on these more often lately. I will not be distracted, I will march on. I often repeat these words from one of my favorite songs, ” I want what you want Lord and nothing more.”
Liz, I love that verse and the declaration to not be distracted and to keep marching on! Praise music is so helpful to me too. Thank you so much for sharing and being here. Those are powerful words: “I want what you want Lord and nothing more!” May it be our hearts desire.
Hi, Michelle. This is my first time here. I am your neighbor at Live Free Thursday. I am sorry that you heart is aching. I know that all the times in my life that seem to cause my soul to stir there are so many truths and examples of God’s faithfulness throughout scripture and throughout my life that I can remember. When life seemed uncertain, the truth was God remained faithful and steadfast and I needed to cling to what I knew to be true of Him. I could believe the lies or quickly replace them with His truths not allowing the devil to get a foothold on my thoughts. Asking Christ to capture my thoughts and keep them focused on His truths. Thank you for sharing this. You are encouraging others through what Christ is doing in your life and for that you can praise Him. Have a good week!
Hi Jaime! It is so nice to meet you. Thank you for your encouragement. It is so powerful to ‘ask Christ to capture our thoughts and keep them focused on His truths’. Thank you so much for sharing your heart here. Blessings to you!