Learning to Lament

Learning to Lament

The word “lament” means “to express deep sorrow, grief, or regret about someone or something that is lost, gone, or unfortunate.” But it’s not a word we use a lot, is it?

We so often shy away from speaking about sorrow, grief, and regret. Nor do we honestly express these emotions, even to ourselves. Yet, the Bible doesn’t ignore the complicated emotions that accompany life in a fallen world. Prophet Jeremiah wrote an entire book on his lamentations!

Lament in the Bible

Scholars say 40% of the psalms are pure laments and about 70% include some form of lament. They express desperation, distress, questions, cries for help, and sometimes just plain confusion. I used to skim through such passages, but I’m slowly learning to appreciate their inherent beauty.

The poetry in these psalms is sad and melancholy, and frankly, quite depressing to read. But it poignantly captures the raw emotions of real human beings. The Bible doesn’t gloss over the pain and suffering that God’s people have endured over the ages.

“Why, Lord?” asks the psalmist in Psalm 10:1.

“How long, Lord?” wonders David in Psalm 13:1.

Their plaintive cries may go unanswered, yet most lament psalms end on a positive note. Although the circumstances may not have changed, somewhere in the process, there was a change in perspective. That’s evident in how the psalmists often end their tales of woe with confidence that God had heard their prayers and He’d give them the strength to endure.

Job is another person in the Bible who had many questions and complaints that were never really answered. But when God finally revealed Himself (Job 38:1), Job repented for speaking about things he didn’t fully understand (Job 42:3). Job hadn’t received “double for his trouble” yet, but God’s word was sufficient to silence his doubts and bolster his faith.

Questions and Trust

It’s natural to question God when experiencing anxiety, depression, disillusionment, intense grief, loss, chronic pain, or long-term sickness. Lament lets us voice our grief and direct our angst to the Lord who is sovereign over all and who loves us like no other.

Sometimes, God miraculously changes our situation and makes us feel better. But sometimes, He does not.

Sometimes, God patiently answers our questions, comforts us with His Word, and leads us to trained counsellors who can help.

But sometimes, the pain lingers, the darkness remains.

Do we still trust God’s sovereignty then?

Does our sadness sap our faith? Or does it make us more reliant on God’s strength to get us through another day?

Our emotions are often a barometer of our mental health. Yet, when something feels off, we don’t always try to process it with God. We want the easy, albeit temporary, fix – a funny reel, uplifting music, fresh air, retail therapy, or someone to vent it all out to.

But perhaps we need to stop numbing the sadness and learn to bring it to Christ.

Processing Pain With Christ

The best place to cry is in God’s presence. It’s really quite cathartic. When we pour out all our grief at His feet, we make room for His grace to envelop us.

We can find comfort in Jesus Christ, who also experienced intense grief and anguish. We know that He sees our pain. He hears our cries. He understands our complex emotions.

People may not always understand the extent of our grief. They may comfort us for a while, and then expect us to snap out of it. But God is patient with us. He is a safe refuge. He heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and strengthens the weary soul (Isaiah 40:29).

If you’re going through a season of sadness, ask yourself what’s really pulling you down. Take time to lament as the psalmists did. Bring your questions to the Lord. Cast your cares on Him. Let Him help you make sense of it all.

And then… like the psalmists, turn your thoughts towards what you already know about the Lord.

Remember who your God is. Recall what He’s already done for you.

His character hasn’t changed. He is still kind and faithful to keep His promises. His grace is sufficient. It will always be enough to get us through another day.

Because we have Christ, we have hope.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
– Psalm 30:5

Photo by Valentin Efimov on Unsplash

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Sacrificed in My Stead

Sacrificed in My Stead

This week, we commemorate the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection. The following words are a personal expression of the overwhelming gratitude that floods my soul when I think of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on my behalf. 

Verse 1:
“Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” said the crowd.
I stood helpless aside, in shame cowed down.
I deserved to bear the cost of my sin – but I didn’t,
For my Lord had great mercy and stepped in.

Chorus:
Oh, how great the Father’s love for me,
Led Jesus to die on Calvary.
Atoned for my sin, I have been set free,
By His Spirit I now live abundantly.

Verse 2:
A sinless man on the cross took my place.
My God in flesh bore my sin, paid my price.
The thorns He wore pierce my thoughts, “He saved my soul!”
The blood He shed cleanses me, makes me whole.

Verse 3:
Christ sacrificed His own life in my stead.
He suffered great pain, that I might live again.
He rose up from the grave, raised me up along with Him,
Conquered death, now eternally He reigns.

Note: I first wrote this song as a course assignment on the passion of Christ. It speaks of the Father’s immense love, Christ’s redemptive sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s continual empowerment. It’s a reminder to be grateful for the freedom we now enjoy because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

The first line was originally meant to be, “Crucify her, crucify her!” I could imagine myself standing beside the cross, condemned by people for my sins – until Jesus Christ stepped in and took my place. I’ll forever be in awe of His great love that led Him to the cross and saved my soul from eternal death.

Photo: Alicia Quan on Unsplash

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Mirror or Lens: How Do You Read the Bible?

I’ve been reading the Bible for as long as I can remember. Like most children born into Christian homes, I started with picture Bibles and then moved on to my first “real” Bible as a tween (a paperback Good News Translation). However, it wasn’t until I moved away for college in 2000 that I began studying the Bible in earnest.

The first time I read through the entire Bible, it took 3+ years. When I proudly told my spiritual counsellor that I’d finished, he simply told me to read it again! But then work, marriage, and motherhood happened, and I couldn’t systematically read through the Bible again until my sons were toddlers.

When I was in my mid-20s, I learnt that a middle-aged Christian author (and mother of multiple children) had read through the Bible 7 times. I was amazed and wondered if I’d ever reach that number in my lifetime. But by God’s grace, I have been able to make slow and steady progress.

Some years, I followed a Bible-in-a-Year plan on the YouVersion app. In other seasons, I used study Bibles or commentaries and took years to complete.

It felt great to establish a consistent Bible-reading habit, but I was missing something essential.

You see, I had learnt the inductive Bible study method as a new mom. The SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) helped me build a regular Bible study habit. But I ended up merely mining the Bible for quick takeaways that benefited my life.

I read the Bible as a mirror, looking for what I could get from it for myself. I’d skim through Old Testament books, eagerly looking for verses that offered encouragement or direction. I thought of the Bible as a life manual, rather than a collection of books that tell one unified story. It’s a story that reveals who God is, what He’s done for His people through the ages, and how that matters to us today.

In Women of the Word, Jen Wilkin writes,

“The Bible tells us who we are and what we should do, but it does so through the lens of who God is.”

It took time to realign my perspective and view the Bible primarily as a book about God, not about myself. I needed to first understand what a passage revealed about God before I looked for a life application.

Tara-Leigh Cobble reinforces this concept in The Bible Recap (a yearly Bible reading plan). She ends each day’s reading with the question,

“What was your God Shot today?”

This prompt encourages the reader to consider what the day’s passage reveals about the attributes of God.

When I read the Bible as a mirror, only verses that convict or encourage me hold any appeal. But when I see through it as a lens to understand the nature of God, even the Old Testament passages I once skimmed begin to make more sense. It’s amazing how Scripture reveals God’s sovereignty, holiness, and generosity – even in passages that might seem boring and repetitive.

I do still look for personal application during my Bible study time. At times, the Holy Spirit uses Scripture to encourage my weary heart, reignite my faith, clarify confusing thoughts, or guide my actions. But reading the Bible primarily to understand what it says about God Himself has made the practice far more meaningful.

What does your Bible-reading practice look like? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash

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3 Reminders for the Obsessive Goal Setter

3 Reminders for the Obsessive Goal Setter

I recently learned that January 10th was Quitter’s Day because people likely abandon their New Year’s resolutions by the second Friday of January. Now that we’re a month past Quitter’s Day in 2025, we’ve either stuck to our goals or already given up on them!

I’m an obsessive goal-setter and hardly ever give up on my yearly goals which I work on in 90-day increments. However, I can also run myself ragged trying to achieve them!

In 2024, I wanted to keep up with my MA course, blog more, learn 3 languages, read 100 books, and pick up crochet as a hobby. But despite my best intentions, I tanked multiple goals last year. While I made good progress on my course, blogged quite a bit (mostly over at IndiAanya) and kept up with learning French on Duolingo, the other goals flopped.

If you, like me, are an obsessive goal setter, perhaps these reminders might help us avoid goal fatigue and yet be motivated to work on the goals that truly matter.

Reminder 1: Not every goal is right for every season

When I set my goals in January last year, I didn’t anticipate how my schedule would turn on its head by May – when my sons joined a pre-university after 4 years of learning from home. With 7 people and a dog under one roof, I had to be realistic about what I could achieve in a busy season.

At times, it was all I could do to ensure everyone was fed, the house was reasonably clean, and the laundry basket wasn’t overflowing. When my circumstances changed, I had to let go of some goals that no longer served me.

This year, I’ve set many of the same goals as last year, focusing primarily on my spiritual and physical well-being, and spending time with my family. The rest may not get done this year, and I’m learning to be okay with that.

Reminder 2: In a crunch, focus on the essentials

I used to be a perfectionist with my goals and habits, obsessively checking things off my list and beating myself up when I didn’t meet my targets. But with age comes wisdom (and grey hair!) and the ability to let inessential things slide.

Reading has always been my favorite pastime, and I can easily lose track of time, reading “just one more chapter” late into the night. But when my schedule became so demanding that getting 6 hours of sleep became a challenge, I reluctantly cut back on my reading goal and prioritized sleep.

I had to focus on the essentials, which for me included:

  • My morning Bible study
  • Evening workouts
  • Required learning for my course
  • Home chores
  • Family and church commitments 

Everything else fell by the wayside, and life was still good. While I’m again focusing on the essentials this year, I might be able to onboard more goals as my schedule eases up.

Reminder 3: Any progress is celebration-worthy

It’s easy to focus on all the ways we fall short, rather than notice the progress we’ve actually made. I typically end each year taking stock of all my wins and reminding myself that I didn’t completely mess up my year! I’m now learning to do that at the end of every month as well.

God graciously gives us enough grace and strength to get through each day. When we take time to celebrate our wins, we remember what truly matters and learn to be grateful for what God has helped us achieve this far.

Have you set any goals this year? How can you adapt your goals to realistically fit your current season of life?

Photo by Ferenc Horvath on Unsplash

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5 Life Lessons I Learnt on Vacation

5 Life Lessons I Learnt on Vacation

We visited Darjeeling as a family earlier this month… It had been 7 years since our last real vacation, so this was a long-anticipated break from our daily grind.

I encountered quite a few random ‘aha’ moments on our trip – some deep, some superficial. I’m memorializing them here to remind myself… And perhaps, some of these life lessons might resonate with you as well.

1. The ability to worship is a gift

We missed Sunday service in our church because we were up on the mountains. Before we left for the day’s activities, we tuned in to our online service so we could join in worship.

One of the songs we sang was “A Thousand Hallelujahs” – a personal favorite. As I sang the first stanza along with the worship leader, the lyrics struck me afresh.

“Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing
But this joy is mine”

There I was, looking out our homestay window at the towering pines and misty mountains, and I realized… Creation doesn’t have the words to praise their Creator, but I do!

I recognized what a privilege it is to praise God with our words, our emotions, our whole being. And also, songwriters who give us meaningful words to praise the Lord are such a blessing!

2. Fresh air truly does wonders

The air up in the mountains is really so much cleaner. For someone who’s long got used to the dust and pollution of city life, it literally was a breath of fresh air!

My body automatically followed a new circadian rhythm – going to bed early, waking up at first light, and sleeping through the night! My mind was clearer, my food cravings were noticeably lesser, and I physically felt so much better.

While we can’t always traipse up a mountain in search of fresh air, we can step outside early in the morning, late at night, or after a good downpour, and catch a breath of (hopefully) dust-free air.

3. God orchestrates the best surprises

Surprise #1:

We knew we would pass by the Nepal border on our way to Darjeeling. Our cab driver showed us the checkpoint and asked us if we’d like to visit, but we didn’t think it would be possible since we didn’t have our passports with us.

But what do you know, our Aadhar cards were enough! We got to step into Nepal, take a few pictures, buy a souvenir, and get back to India after “visiting” another country!

Surprise #2:

The boys were keen on visiting a pine tree forest in Lepcha Jagat (as recommended by their friend) but it wasn’t on our agenda. When the driver overheard us talking about it, he told us it was enroute to Darjeeling and stopped there for us.

We went on a short impromptu trek, took some great pictures, gorged on momos, and continued the drive with our hearts (and stomachs) full!

Surprise #3:

It was spring season in Darjeeling, so we got to see the azaleas in full bloom and flowers everywhere – from the smallest shanty to largest garden. The sheer variety of flowers in vibrant colors made even an ordinary drive a beautiful experience.

This isn’t the first time God has orchestrated something delightful out of the blue, so I know enough to credit God for the seemingly ordinary coincidences!

4. It’s ok to feel disappointed

One of the main draws of our homestay was that our windows would overlook the Kanchenjunga at a distance. It just so happened that for the duration of our stay, it was so misty that we couldn’t catch a glimpse of it.

We were really looking forward to seeing the sun rays hit the mountaintop, but it was not to be. We visited a few lookout points and headed to Tiger Hills to catch a sunrise, but a sight of the Himalayan range eluded us.

Well, such is life… We live, we lament, we learn, we laugh, we love, we keep living. I’m reliving this lesson as I currently process weightier disappointments in my own life.

It’s ok to feel disappointed, but we aren’t without hope. We trust that God has good things in store for us, and there is always more to look forward to.

5. I can do hard things

Our itinerary included a trek in Lamahatta amid the pine trees. It was a gorgeous location, but I conveniently forgot that the trek would be uphill. Only when I started climbing did I realize what an arduous trek it would be.

As someone with chronic pain who struggles to walk/stand for long, this trek was daunting. Yet after a few minutes of panting on the uphill climb, I decided I would keep going and enjoy the experience with my family.

My mind was on a constant loop asking God for strength to make it through safely. It helped that my family was always at hand to help me navigate tricky spots without falling.

Our host/guide took us far beyond the usual trekking route and we stopped a while to appreciate the sound of silence. As we sat up top amid the dense pine trees, I got a glimpse of what Frost penned – the woods certainly are lovely, dark, and deep.

Still, we too had promises to keep and had to make our trek back downhill! By the end of the day, we had walked about 17k+ steps (10km) – so far beyond what I thought I could do!

Now back down here in reality, when I have something laborious or mundane on my to-do list that I’m dreading, I remind myself that I can do hard things! It’s like texting myself the 💪🏼 emoji and amping myself up! LOL!

The next time you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself of the hard times you’ve already navigated. The Lord has led you this far… He’s not going to forsake you now! You can do hard things too.

Did any of these lessons resonate with you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome

Last year, I read a devotional in Streams in the Desert about Paganini, a renowned violinist.

Paganini was getting ready to play in front of an audience when he realized his prized violin had been stolen. What he held in his hand was a second-hand instrument, but he played nevertheless and enraptured his audience.

The violin wasn’t special, the violinist was!

It was Paganini’s talent that coaxed beautiful music from a seemingly ordinary instrument.

Sometimes, I feel like that second-hand violin… But thankfully, I’m in the hands of a loving, compassionate Master who’s still able to coax some good music out of me.

For a woman in her 40s, I don’t have much going on. My child-rearing years are almost behind me. In a couple of years, my boys will be adults. I don’t have any great career aspirations or dreams for my future.

Imposter syndrome rears its ugly head every time I log onto LinkedIn to look at job profiles. I’m too out of the loop to apply for the IT jobs I studied for. And I don’t have the degrees to back the content marketing roles I have some experience in.

My mind constantly tells me:

  • What are you doing with your life?
  • You can’t really start afresh at this age!
  • You don’t have much of a future to look forward to.
  • You don’t have the energy to make it in the corporate world.
  • You’re so far behind others who’ve progressed rapidly in their vocations.

And yet, I know deep down in my heart that God has led me to exactly where I am for a purpose.

For a season, it was to work in the IT industry. For another, it was to stay home and raise medically fragile triplets.

Then came the season of working online part-time and managing home/family the rest of the time. Following that, I became a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom.

And now, I’ve dipped my toes back into academia!

My old dreams might have crashed and burned, but what I see around me now are not ruins. I see the new foundation God laid when I obeyed Him (reluctantly, I must admit) and quit 2 separate careers.

Imposter syndrome is real, but so is the unfathomable grace of God!

His truth reminds me:

  • I am a beloved child of God.
  • I will never be forsaken by Him.
  • His plans for my future are good.
  • His grace and strength sustain me.
  • The little I do is precious in His sight.

The devil can easily gain a foothold in our minds through our thoughts. But as we fill ourselves with the truth of God’s Word, the lies quiet down to a whisper.

Do you struggle with imposter syndrome as well? Perhaps you feel so worn out from all the struggles you’ve been through that you can’t even think about what’s ahead.

You may feel like a used and battered-up instrument, but in the hands of your Maker, you are just perfect for His purpose. Surrender yourself, just as you are, into the hands of the Lord. He can make beautiful music out of any instrument that’s willing to be used by Him.

It’s truly the best way to live – surrendered and ready to fulfill our Creator’s purpose for us!

Photo by Lukas Robertson on Unsplash

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2024: New Beginnings

2024: New Beginnings

I haven’t blogged on here for two whole years… the longest I’ve been silent since I started the blog in 2011.

(I have been writing every 3 months at IndiAanya, though. You can click here to find all my contributions.)

This much-delayed post is a life update, 2023 year-in-review, and 2024 goals post – all in one!

So, a lot has happened in our family since I wrote about seeing God’s goodness in 2022.

  • I quit the part-time online job I’d been holding since 2013.
  • We started homeschooling our sons.
  • My husband moved to a better, but more demanding job.

These 3 major changes all happened within 3 months, which caused a complete upheaval of our daily routines. Despite all the chaos, I must admit that the past two years have been a gift.

Getting to stay home with three teen sons for 2 whole years has indeed been a privilege. It wasn’t the smoothest journey… but we ALL did a lot of learning, forgiving, discipling, and growing!

And now that a new year has rolled around, I’m excited about the new beginnings to come!

Back to School

Our boys have successfully completed their 10th standard (6 months ahead of their peers) and are eager to join a regular pre-university college in June.

I too have decided to go back to college, albeit online. I’m pursuing my MA in Biblical Studies! I’m just a few weeks into the course but it’s looking good and I’m excited to get back to systematic learning.

New Year, New Goals

I didn’t set any goals at all in 2022 – just needed to take it slow after the chaos of the Covid days. In 2023, I eased back into goal setting… although I made real progress on only 3 fronts:

  • Bible study (I completed my first ever Bible in a Year plan and Beth Moore Bible study)
  • Fitness (150 days in the year – any intentional exercise that lasted 15 minutes counted)
  • Marriage (Regular coffee dates and a few fancy dinner dates helped)

Now that 2024 is in full swing, I’ve been motivated to set a brand-new set of goals. The goals mostly fall under the following categories:

  • Bible study – complete the New Testament and the Pentateuch
  • Fitness – exercise 150 days (at least 20 minutes or 6k steps)
  • Learning – basics of 3 languages, start crocheting
  • Family – dates with the husband, a family vacation

I will be following the 90-day goal model as I’ve found that’s what works for me.

Going back to school, getting back to goal setting, and blogging here again… they aren’t much, but they are the new beginnings I’m excited about this year.

Sometimes, we wait for a new year, or a new month, to make intentional changes. But we don’t have to.

I like how Nicky Gumbel puts it:

“The good news is that each year is an opportunity for a fresh start. But then so is each week. Every Sunday is the first day of the week – a new beginning. Actually, every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.”

Are you looking forward to a new beginning this year? Perhaps it’s a life transition or a just a new habit/hobby you want to develop. I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Let’s make 2024 one for the books! I believe by God’s grace, we will 💪🏼😇.

Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash

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Seeing God’s Goodness in 2022

Seeing God's Goodness in 2022

Ever had this happen to you?

You’re mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and a pretty picture captures your eye. You glance through the caption and find a verse that stirs up hope in your heart.

The following day you read your Bible and find the same verse nestled in your regular Bible reading plan.

Fast forward a few hours…

You’re listening to a podcast where the host reads out a Psalm which includes (you guessed it…) that verse again!

I like to call those God-incidences!

It makes me feel God’s trying to get my attention… He really wants to tell me something, if only I’m ready to listen.

So, going back to the verse that kept coming back to me… it was Psalm 27:13.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

I always looked up to this verse as a future hope…

“Someday, in some way, I will see the goodness of the Lord in my life.”

“Even if I’m going through a fiery trial right now, I will soon live in God’s goodness.”

But what if I had it all upside down?

What if, I AM living the goodness of God… but I’m just too apathetic to realize it?

There are seasons of my life where I’ve been intentional about counting my blessings and celebrating the little things in life.

But when my world is spinning too fast, and I can barely hold on… I let those habits slide.

When I came across this verse, God reminded me that I am experiencing His goodness in my life… I’ve just been so overwhelmed with daily stressors to notice it.

In the midst of the pandemic and all the grief we’ve been through, it’s tempting to attribute evil to God or harp on His inaction.

Even if we don’t outright say it, we have thoughts such as…

“If God really loved me, He wouldn’t let me go through this.”

“God, there’s so much bad happening in the world today… where are you in all this?”

“If You’re really good and You really care, You’d do something!”

I don’t know about you, but I sure have accused God of not doing what I think is right – for me, for my family, and the world at large.

We might acknowledge that God is not the author of evil, but we still cringe at the thought that He’s allowed us to go through a difficult situation.

If we’re quick to blame God when bad things befall us, why aren’t we equally attributing ALL good things to God as well?

That a meeting went by without a hitch.

That there was enough sunshine on a gloomy day to get a load of laundry done.

That the sickness subsided without a dose of antibiotics.

That the grief of losing a loved one became less painful over time.

That after months of feeling blue, there’s a glimmer of hope.

That through the chronic pain and weakness, His strength is just enough for today.

That in the midst of all the sadness, His comforting grace keeps us going.

Through all the grief and loss of the past few years, it’s been God’s incredible goodness that’s kept us going. And I’m confident we will continue seeing God’s goodness in 2022 as well.

May this be our prayer today:

Lord, I thank You that every good thing in my life is from You. I’m already seeing Your goodness in the land of the living. I’m grateful for the privilege to call You Father.

I know You care for me, even on those bad days when I don’t see you intervening on my behalf.

Thank You for the grace you’ve showered on me, and for helping me seek Your face – on the good days and on the bad.

Help me remember that irrespective of my everchanging moods, I’m always loved by You.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Photo by pine watt on Unsplash

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2020: Year in Review

2020: Year in Review

When I wrote my first post this year, I didn’t expect 2020 to turn out the way it did.

Let’s face it… none of us did.

But 2020 did happen!

We battled a worldwide pandemic… we still are.

We lost loved ones.

We grieved missed opportunities.

We buried some dreams.

We resurrected old hobbies.

We found new interests.

We worked from home.

We cherished family.

We worried quite a bit.

We prayed a lot.

We made time for the things that mattered.

This has been a devastating year for many with the economic crisis, political wars, and the seeming triumph of injustice around the world.

For others, it’s been a year of rest and rejuvenation – a much needed break from the hustle of regular life.

Personally, this year has been a mixed bag for me.

As someone who periodically needs time alone to recuperate, this year didn’t give me room for that.

Solitude and quietness were hard to come by because my beautiful family was home all day, everyday!

I had to seek out new ways to cope with anxiety and find time for the rest my soul craved.

When the mundaneness started to wear me out, I found solace in reading and journaling.

I read a lot of the Bible. I furiously wrote as a means to process the mayhem in my mind.

I read 60+ books this year! I don’t think I’ve read that many books in the past 20 years combined!

I used books to escape the real world, but God graciously used the words to revive my faith, restore my mental health, and renew my determination to survive this year.

In case you were wondering, here are my top 5 reads of 2020:

I had set some lofty goals at the beginning of 2020.

As each 90-day mark swept by, my list of goals dwindled down.

And one of my goals for the last quarter was in fact, “Survive 2020”!

Yep… that’s right! I was just about ready to get over 2020 and see it in the rearview mirror!

Still, I can’t say 2020 was a complete disaster.

My family and I hit quite a few milestones this year…

  1. We moved to our new home – it’s been an oasis of comfort in these trying times.
  2. My husband turned 40, and he made the best tuna sandwiches and fried chicken burgers this year!
  3. We’ve got 3 teenagers under our roof, and their shoes are officially bigger than mine!
  4. I got to contribute a few blog posts at IndiAanya this year.
  5. We got a puppy!

Not to forget…

The kids actually thrived in online school this year.

They also had so much more time to pursue their individual interests and grow in their faith.

So many times this year, God came through for us and surprised our family.

We’ve documented them all in words and pictures, to remember for years to come.

Some of my best moments of 2020 included sitting as a family in our living room and discussing a multitude of topics – from Biblical truths to funny videos.

So, looking back at the year that was… it’s been a wild, crazy ride.

But I am grateful for the ups and downs of 2020, and I can’t wait to see what God has for us in 2021.

Here’s praying we all have a better year ahead…!

Have a blessed 2021! 😊

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

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Be Still and Know

Be Still and Know

(This blog post idea has been languishing in my brain for months now… Given the current state of the world, I had to buckle up and write it out – as much for myself as for those who read my blog.)

In July 2018, I posted this on my Facebook page…

At that time, it was a new revelation for me.

I had memorized Psalm 46:10 as a child, but the words took on a new meaning when I read it again as an adult in different Bible translations.

Now, as we live through a pandemic and a 21-day complete lockdown, the simple truth behind this verse could very well be a lifeline that holds each of us together and keeps us from crumbling.

Be Still

We’ve seen the phrase on Instagram letter boards and framed artwork. It’s artistically woven into digital graphics and embroidered on cushion covers.

But what does it really mean to be still?

Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon says some of the original meanings of the term are:

  • to sink
  • relax
  • abandon
  • refrain
  • let go
  • to be quiet
  • let alone
  • to show oneself slack

Wow! That’s certainly a lot to process, isn’t it?

When the world has turned on its head, and nothing seems the same anymore… how do we react?

Mind-numbing fear and anxiety? Been there, done that!

But being still… not a pose I’m particularly familiar with.

Let’s face it… most days, even if we’re physically sitting still, a million thoughts are running through our minds.

(Or our fingers are mindlessly scrolling through a screen. But that’s another matter altogether!)

What would it really mean to quieten our minds in the presence of God?

Let go of the things that crowd our brains and sink into our Father’s loving embrace…

Give ourselves time and space to process current world events (and how they affect our lives) in the light of God’s Word…

Ignore our to-do lists for awhile and bask in the Lord’s grace…

Our hitherto rigid schedules have a lot more wiggle room now. Could we use some of it to be still and commune with our Creator?

And Know that I am God

I don’t think I’ve fully appreciated the meaning of the word ‘and‘ till now.

We can’t just be still and expect much… the words following the ‘be still‘ part are crucial too.

In our pursuit to be still, let’s not gloss over the ‘know‘ part of the verse.

This is where all our past experience with faith in God and the knowledge we’ve accumulated from the Bible comes into play.

In our stillness, we must know, recognize, understand who our God is.

He is God. You and I are not.

Let that just sink in.

I used to love the quote by Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables…

“God is in heaven, all’s right with the world.“

Well, guess what?!

All’s not right with the world now.

We’re in the thick of a pandemic… and most days I wake up hoping it’s showing signs of ending.

Still, we hold on to the knowledge that He is God and we are not.

This pandemic is bigger than us, but God is still on the throne.

God is still God. And God is still good.

In the midst of being still and knowing God, let’s keep praying that He will heal our land, strengthen those on the frontlines, provide for and protect those in need, guide decision makers, grant us peace and make us whole again.

We’ve read the end of Revelation… we know it’s all going to be ok in the end.

Until then… we can hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

He will be exalted among the nations! He will be exalted in the earth. – Psalm 46:10b

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

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