Who do you trust when things are tough? Really?

My friend is sitting with her husband today during his father’s last days on earth. My co-worker just buried her grandfather yesterday and today gets the call that her other grandfather has entered heaven. My bandmate’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers. My friend lost his job. My oldest friend is currently dealing with a sick husband. My Dad is constantly struggling with the effects of cancer. The list goes on and on.

We all have stuff. Sometimes it is really bad. Sometimes it’s a daily struggle. Sometimes it’s a long drawn out ordeal. Sometimes it’s not.

No matter what it is….are you laying it at the feet of Jesus or are you carrying it around on your shoulders? Are you trusting the one who died for you and loves you more than anyone else or are you hanging onto with it for deal life? Believe me, I am guilty of all of the above.

Breathe is my word for the year? Why you ask? I have to remind myself to breathe in and out. That sounds pathetic that I must remind myself to breathe. My shoulders are wrapped around my ears and the knots in my neck are suffocating me. I’m in the car and I’m thinking about my day job at Church of Hope, my friends who are suffering, the house we are restoring and the many MANY things that go with that, my daughters wedding that is quickly approaching, Kyle is starting grad school and moved to a new town, my parents,  and the list goes on and on and on.

You get it. We all have extremely hectic lives.

As I remind myself to breathe everyday, I have included a prayer. It could be 1 minute long or it could be a song I love to sing. I sometimes cry or call someone. All of this doesn’t matter if I don’t leave it all at the cross.

All I am trying to say is stop for a second or two. Take a breath. Thank God for the blessing that he gives us everyday. It might not be the blessing you are looking for  but your story is already written. Just wait and see what happens and trust that the best is yet to come.