I set down my shears, glanced in the mirror, and made contact with my own heavy eyes that whispered clearly, “My heart is hurting.” I lightly brushed my fingers over the bags under my eyes, hoping to rub away the evidence of my worn-down soul. My heart was hurting enough, I didn’t need everyone else to know it simply with one look.
Jesus is the answer to overcoming this other power that is working within all of us to corrupt and pollute our joy. He is the answer to overcoming all the corruption that is flowing out of our old nature. We will explore this further but in a simple and direct bullet point our victory is found in more of Jesus rather than more stubborn effort and striving in our own strength. Our future does not have to be forcing a smile onto our face out of a sense of religious duty. We can walk in a genuine joy that is flowing from the abiding presence of Jesus within us. We can access a joy and strength that endures time and challenges and shines like a light in the darkness of this broken world. Jesus made us all this promise as He was raising up the original disciples.
Do you resent God for not being there? For not changing things? For not doing what you so hoped He would? You have permission to grieve. Permission to mourn. Permission to be honest and human. Yes. Permission to not understand. Amen.
Sister, can I lean in close and tell you something powerful? You have something to offer. Your contribution—right where you are—matters more than you know. In a world shouting for performance and perfection, it’s easy to believe the lie that hustle is the only path to significance. But friend, there’s a better way—a Kingdom way. One that begins with redefining hustle through four intentional keys: Define, Direct, Discipline, and Develop.
In the wild, animals fill their days with vital activities. They are focused on survival and reproduction, reflecting their God- given initiative to produce after their own kind. They hunt, gather, reproduce, and seek shelter. My family and I see this every autumn when we go up to watch the elk in rut season in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is fascinating and exhausting to watch. The male bull elk are busy gathering female cows and calves into small groups, called harems, and protecting them from rival males. The elk are solely focused on reproducing, finding food and shelter, and staying safe. These are their vital activities.