mending a heavy heart

As we all know, our world has been filled with so much chaos and division and sadness in the past couple months/years. I find myself going in and out of waves where I just feel heavy or am in a 'funk.' Sometimes, it is a day at a time. Sometimes, it is a week at a time. If you know me well, I try to avoid all conversations of political interest, never turn on the news, and am quite oblivious regarding current events. I believe everyone should be educated, but at the same time, struggle with those constant streams of negativity. I never find anything positive out of those things and it's hard, man.

Heavy hearts can be caused by a number of things. When your expectation for humanity isn't met. Relationships turning out to be not what you thought. Not seeing eye-to-eye. Losing someone in your life. Having a flat-out bad day. Whatever it is, we ALL are going through something. Big or small.

But no matter what is going on when my heart feels heavy, there is always a constant that I try to remember to come back to. Recently wrote this in my journal:

"I feel lighter when I pray to God and just talk to Him. Nothing beautiful, or even a combination of words that I understand, but a normal conversation where I dump my thoughts out like I would to a friend. But what is so great about God is that He is more than just a friend to us - He is our eternal, Heavenly Father.

Meaning, He will never leave us.

He loves us like innocent children. And He loves when His kids talk and ask Him for things. He is the best listener. He understands us and everything we feel. Sometimes, when I talk to God I don't even say anything at all. Sometimes, I just want to sit at His feet and let Him read me like a book. God is where I feel most vulnerable, yet the safest. What a beautiful thing to experience...

Exposed but protected.

Fearful but comforted.

Challenged but saved.

It's true, all things are possible with Christ. And when we slow down to take a moment to spend time and talk with God, He gives us a new heart. He not only mends, but fully replaces our broken, heavy hearts. When we feel broken, lost, and worn-down- He is there. And He has never left nor plans on leaving.

All because he loves us that much."

It is hard to remember the good when you feel like you are being swallowed with the 'bad.' Honestly, I am not the perfect example of going to God FIRST through everything. I forget. I get so caught up in what is happening around me that I wind myself up and turn into a huge knot of feelings and emotions. But I am always reminded that God has His hands on everything. And if we let Him, He will use everything in our life FOR our good. He is on our team and that should be the biggest relief.

In a time when so many things are ever-changing, it is comforting to have a constant. Whether for you that 'constant' is God, or something completely different, remember to slow down and spend time submerging yourself in it. Remember the good things. Remind others of the good things, too.

WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM.

Always,

Sara