Stretched Spaces

Days and weeks go by and I wallow in defeat.  Life’s challenges swamp me – parenting, friendships, gardening, animal care – feeling rejected at the places that fill life.  So I wrap up, cocoon myself, in my own little corner of the world.  I try to insulate in order to not feel the hurt and disappointment.

Unfortunately that does not work, the pain it sits here with me.  Daily I turn to God’s Word and plow through – seeking solace.  It has taken weeks of silence for me to finally hear past the pain. Psalm 33:13-14 speaks…

The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees every human being.
From his dwelling place God observes
all who live on earth.

The Lord sees me and observes not just the outside, but also the inside.  Flipping through a few online devotions I read from a favorite since I was a teenager…

”We have all been in places where it seemed as though
we were defeated, and the enemy rejoiced.” 
Streams in the Desert

Yes, feeling defeated these long, hot summer days.  I feel like a slug on the sidewalk slowly sliding along.  The Word that God sees me here in the place of defeat and waits.  Waits for the heart to be ready to hear His Words.  Waits for brokenness, cracks in the cocoon, spaces for His loving care to seep in and encourage to break free.

Clicking on a devotion website that is new to me I read the title and grin - “Recovering From Rejection”… 
“He gently reassured me of my worth in His eyes and reminded me that my value wasn't based on man's approval, but solely on His……As a result, I was able to take my focus off of my rejecter, and instead focus on my approver - Jesus.” 

It always comes back to that – where is my focus.  God from heaven sees, observes, watches over me with faithful love.  He alone is able to deliver me from this dark cocoon – He is also willing to deliver and even create something of beauty.  From the same Streams in the Desert link a prayer, words of hope and help…”sorrows come to stretch out spaces in the heart for joy.” 

"Defeat may serve as well as victory
To shake the soul and let the glory out.
When the great oak is straining in the wind,
The boughs drink in new beauty, and the trunk
Sends down a deeper root on the windward side.
Only the soul that knows the mighty grief
Can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come
To stretch out spaces in the heart for joy."

Persistent Prayer