Rachel Whisman

Guess what? The car troubles persisted this week and the Lord continued to show me how He was a very present help. Last week, I thought the car issues were fixed, but to my demise, they weren’t. I spent another Monday afternoon waiting for the arrival of my date, AAA. My car had to get towed and I was left carless…again. I was dependent on others to take me here and there and it took until Saturday to get my car back.

It’s easy in these moments to try and be stoic and not confess my heart to the Lord. That’s exactly what our pride wants though. It hopes to subdue our authenticity and vulnerability with the Lord. We will reel in our minds about what we are thinking and feeling, but are we quick to lay them at His feet? Our pride wants us to neglect “casting our cares onto the Lord” because we think we can take better care of ourselves. 

Our lives are filled with frustrating moments. It is bound to happen; we live in a broken world. From the inconvenience of your AC going out, your child asking for the 1,385th time “Why?”, the never-ending negatives on pregnancy tests, another year passing in singleness when you desire marriage, or when you drop that one grocery bag filled with avocados and you helplessly watch them roll down and away from you in the grocery store parking lot.

Life happens and these moments are not insignificant but are very much opportunities to draw near to the Lord and depend on Him as our help. Martin Luther counseled his people with this advice,

“For at such time, you must accustom yourself not to wrap yourself up in misfortune and sink into your own thoughts, without the Word of God”

and Bob Kellemen unfolded his wisdom with,

“Luther was not counseling to deny your feelings or thoughts, but instead to wrap your feelings and thoughts in the wisdom and deeper reality of the Word.” 

Every day is filled with opportunities to state the obvious of your condition to the Lord, as well as to remind yourself of the reality of who God is in the midst of the turmoil. It might look like this: 

“Lord, I am feeling ______ (overwhelmed, tired, anxious, nervous, angry, helpless, alone, etc).”

“Lord, I would like an answer on _______.”

“Lord, I am just really confused why you’re allowing ______.”

Then, we “wrap ourselves” in the truth of the Word, by His Spirit, to guard our hearts from a hardness towards our Father. Some prayers might be: 

“But God, this too will pass. Your word says that you are with me in this and I will take you at Your word.”  (1 Corinthians 10:13).

“God, Your timing is not off. It is perfect because you are all-wise. Help me to submit and rest in Your timing and not my own.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, Psalm 131). 

“God, in light of eternity, this is a light and momentary affliction. It might not feel like it is, but give me the grace to believe and trust You.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-8)

“God, my feelings will sway, but Your love for me is steadfast, constant, and will never leave. (Psalm 16)

It boils down to these simple reminders. 

This too will pass.

God is with me; I am not alone.

He has the answers; I can trust Him. 

His timing is perfect, and not my own. 

He cares for me. 

When you are tempted to keep your mouth closed in response to a circumstance that doesn’t go your way, may that be an indicator to unburden your heart to the Lord. State the obvious of your condition then preach and remind yourself of His character and promises. It will be far more soothing than whatever we can bring to the table. 

“You who are so pugnacious in everything else, fight against yourself…do not worry about a cause that is not in your hands but in the hands of Him who is greater that the prince of this world and whose hand no one can pluck us.”

-Martin Luther, Counseling Under the Cross