When Easy Doesn’t Live Here: Living by Faith When Life Is Hard a 7 - Day Plan By: Joy A. WilliamsChikamu

DAY 5: THE REACH FOR A WAY TO REGROUP

In our mid-thirties, my husband and I took on a major task. We became caregivers for his grandmother and her sister. As we packed them up and moved them across the country to live with us, we moved into unknown territory.

Rearranging schedules and adjusting our priorities became a constant part of our lives. It wasn’t easy. But eventually, we learned how to lean into God’s grace and regroup. If you’re starting a major task, regrouping in His grace can also help you make necessary adjustments. (2 Corinthians 12:9) And yet, when overwhelm sets in, we may cry on the shoulder of a friend, sit in the office of a therapist, or escape to a favorite pastime. At some point in my life, I’ve done each of these. But there is nothing like the comfort and counsel of Scripture.

From processing a loss to the pressure of a new task, a biblical perspective enhances our well-being. (Psalm 19:7-9) Focusing on scriptures about God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and love inspires me to trust Him in my next steps. (Jeremiah 32:17 and Nahum 1:7)

Through our caregiving journey, I discovered life is not just about finding what is easy to do. It is committing to the thing that is worth doing.

It’s worth stepping out on faith to respond to God’s call to serve others.

It’s worth forgiving those who hurt us instead of wallowing in pain.

It’s worth fighting for the people we love by fighting for them through prayer.

And it’s worth being willing to try something new versus never trying again at all.

But most of all, it’s worth trusting God. He is always worthy of our trust.

PRAYER: Dear God, I trust You to bridge the distance between what’s incredibly hard for me and what only You can do. Show me the steps of faith I need to take to align myself with Your will. Strengthen me to do the things that are worth doing. In Jesus’ name, amen.