A couple weeks ago I did something new to me as a writer. I engaged with readers by asking a simple question in an email: What are you struggling with today? I didn’t know what to expect. Would anyone really reply with their story? Yes. And your answers and time in prayer and reflection reminded me that God is bigger.
Some of you wrote one word. Others wrote several paragraphs. You spoke truths and shared things you might not tell someone else. Honored, I listened, and I committed to pray for each. (And I committed to creating content that might meet my readers’ needs.)
So today I reflected and figured out the common threads — because WOW it’s really all about love, relationships, pain, regrets, faith, and hungers. Here’s what I learned.
- We long for someone to listen.
- We love so deeply it hurts.
- We crave quiet and yet noise fills our world.
- We worry — parents, kids, jobs, money.
- We can’t keep up with demands.
- We are scared.
- We are lonely.
- We have no time.
- We can’t pray.
- We don’t know where we belong.
- We don’t know why we are here.
- We are tired.
- We don’t want to complain.
Since I’m going with the theme of the number 13, often considered an unlucky number if you are superstitious, I looked at Psalm 13.
Please, read this.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13 (ESV)
According to people a whole lot smarter than I am when it comes to Biblical wisdom, David wrote these words as he was being pursued by King Saul. He was panicked, frustrated, afraid. He cried to the Lord. Answer me!
But God Is Bigger
And then the but.
The last two verses.
He sets aside his fear for the moment and gives thanks for what is bigger than all the worry, fear, frustration.
His salvation. His Lord.
Hey, doesn’t this sound a lot like the 13 common threads I heard from you? I know, right?
It’s as if God already knew all these things. (Yes, He does.)
And it’s as if God knew I would write that email and compile this list. (Yes, again.)
It’s as if He knew that the Five Minute Friday word would bring me to the number 13. (Yes.)
It’s as if He knew I would open my Bible to Psalm 13 and share it here.
Blows me away.
I will sing to the Lord.
What is your song? What is your struggle today? In the midst of it, can you still sing and give thanks for what you do have? I’d love to hear your song.
This post was prompted by the word THIRTEEN at Five Minute Friday link-up where I join some wonderful Christian writers to encourage each other and share weekly posts. When you have time, check it out and you’ll find many inspiring posts to read on the same topic. Looking for more devotions and reflections on faith? Click here.
Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash
