by Marcie Bridges, @Marcie_Bridges

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 42:11

 

My soul is laid bare
before Him – my God –
this disquiet within me
consuming, attacking
my enemies surround me
but my Savior is here
my hope and my strength
riding to my rescue.

 

He rides in a
knight in shining armor
white stallions prancing
chariot rimmed with gold
He sits upon His throne
sturdy, ready
to carry me over
the threshold of grace.

 

~Marcell Warner Bridges
©29 July 2018

I wish I could tell you that the peace I felt on our trip to the beach was still embracing me. But life has this queer way of turning the tides on us. Sending us back out into the tumultuous sea.

I also wish I could tell you I took it to the Lord and I laid it at His feet each time I felt my feet lifting out from under me—the current whisking me away.

I wish I could. But I can’t.

I let my thoughts wander around. I let my heart be consumed with negative ideas and instead of surrendering, I continued to drift out to sea.

I continued to let my thoughts drift out to sea. My heart downcast and weary. https://wp.me/p9Dhlg-B8 @Marcie_Bridges #depression #weary #needJesus #poetry

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Until today. I realized I’d had enough of all of this stupidity and turned my heart to seek the Lord. He lead me to Psalms 38-43.

Have you ever read a passage in Scripture and it resonated so much in your spirit you almost stopped breathing?

As the Psalmist describes his depression and how his body felt like it was drying up, bones, brittle and breaking, I about broke down realizing how much I felt the same way. Dehydrated. Physically and especially spiritually.

 

The Message puts it this way:

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He’s my God.

I know my countenance has not been a happy one lately. My family has asked me over and over if I’m okay. If something is bothering me. If I need anything.

But I would smile and say, “Yes, I’m fine. I’m okay.” And I’d go on. Yet inside of me was turmoil.

No matter what may be bothering me or what is causing me to lose my balance and be carried away, I must learn to lay on my back and float in the arms of Jesus. And as I rest in the arms of Jesus, I can put a smile on my face. A genuine smile. Because the joy of the Lord is my strength.

You see, we can’t have peace—true peace—without God. As the boat taking the disciples from one shore to the other encountered a stormy sea, Jesus lay in the bottom of the boat sleeping. He was at peace because He knew His Father was taking care of them. But the disciples didn’t know, or understand, all they had to do was believe God and He would get them through. Until Jesus said, “Peace. Be still.”

 

I know I can’t be alone in this. Is it time for you to let Jesus come swoop you off your feet and be your knight in shining armor? Is it time to let Him be your raft to safety? Seek the Lord. Open His Word and let it soak into your soul. Allow His Word to speak to you and say, “Peace. Be still.”

You can’t get hydrated unless you drink water. Let His living water refresh your spirit today.

From My Heart to Yours,
Marcie

 

Late last week I managed to write a blog post for the week. If you haven’t read it yet, you can read it here:  Hidden Treasures of Wisdom. It speaks to us of how important it is to find and seek out wisdom, not just knowledge.  “Wisdom goes deeper. It whispers. It waits to be spoken. Wisdom is the thoughts that come after agonizing prayer. Through much counsel. It comes in the quiet.”