@bethvogt
I struggled to write this blog post.
For the better part of Tuesday, I thought I just wouldn’t write anything.
The hours kept ticking away, and I kept tossing aside possible topics.
And at ten o’clock Tuesday night I started typing words.
Just how honest would I be?
Life’s been hard the past few days – the kind of physical and mental and spiritual hard where I did the bare minimum that I had to do. Earlier today I found myself saying, “I quit” out loud in the silence of my bedroom.
And I meant it.
I was exhausted with trying oh-so-many things to make myself feel like life is okay in the middle of a pandemic, when every-day-after-day is bookended with news that is divisive and inconclusive at best.
And then you know what happened?
I took a deep breath.
I read Psalm 91 – something I try to do every day since COVID-19 became the theme for 2020.
I took a shower because, well, taking a shower always makes me feel better.
Then I thought: Somebody, somewhere, is praying for me.
That’s when I smiled for the first time yesterday.
Because that wasn’t wishful thinking on my part. That was a God-whisper.
I’ve had difficult days before our country went on lockdown. And I also know I’m not the only person struggling right now. I’m not throwing a virtual pity party, either. This is just me, being honest – and I also want you to know I’m okay.
Life is hard right now. We will get through this – but only if we allow ourselves to admit we’re having tough days.
If today is a rough day for you, realize these 24 hours don’t define you. Call it what it is: a lousy day. Go ahead and take the day off. Take a nap. Ignore a deadline. Watch a movie. Read a book. Read Psalm 91. Eat some chocolate. Bake. Do whatever it takes to get through today.
And know this: Someone is praying for you … because I started praying for you on Tuesday and I haven’t stopped.
Choosing Honesty and Hope for the Difficult Days https://bit.ly/3cAKwfA #encouragment #coronavirus Click To Tweet 'Carve a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment.' Quote by Martin Luther King Jr https://bit.ly/3cAKwfA #hope #encouragement Click To Tweet
Comments 15
You read my mind. This COVID thing is hard enough but add-in the mountains of everyday stuff and it feels as though I’m under the mountain. It’s hard. Almost too hard.
Just like you said.
Thank you for being strong enough to share this post because I needed to see that it’s okay to be honest. “I’m fine,” is just a lie right now, isn’t it?
Reading Psalm 91 right now and I’m praying for you, too.
Author
Angie: Thank you for being honest, too. May Psalm 91 encourage your heart. I’m trying to memorize it — it seems so fitting for these days.
I’m just be-boppin’ through the days,
and relish that which lies ahead;
my life is full of joy and praise,
and I will end up dead.
Though my days be of dark tidings,
I will, like David, dance
to make place for love abiding,
where there’s hope and chance
for those my friends around me
to see God’s shining face
as He finds hilarity
in my lack of twirling grace.
His mirth will shake the summer sky;
rain, tears of laughter from His eye.
Author
Oh, Andrew: You put a smile on my face with your “be-bobbin’,” my friend. And I know you are a man of faith and that you choose to smile and find humor within each day. Twirl on, friend. Twirl on.
Beth, your honesty USA breath of fresh air. Thank you for being so open and honest, and for the encouragement
Love you,
Mona
Author
Mona: Let’s be honest with one another — and continue on in faith, praying for strength for today, knowing God’s got us. And His grace is sufficient. He loves us, whether we’re feeling strong or whether we’re struggling. And for that I’m thankful.
Yes, I think looking at such things honestly brings them out of the dark for God’s sunlight to shine on them. I think it’s the indefinite uncertainty that’s hardest of all. I found Mon., about 32 of isolation, my hardest. I didn’t even like my own company, but the next morn., really cried out for help and everything changed–better than I dared hope, though outwardly nothing changed and no blanks were filled. That was a good lesson for me. I know how to proceed faster if that happens again. Wishing you blessings, strength, and more good writing!
Author
Dee: I agree, the uncertainty is extremely challenging. A pastor also mentioned that we are dealing with a lot of ongoing grief, and that reality helped me a lot. Praying for you today, my friend.
As always, Beth, your honesty takes my breath away. Thanks for putting into words what I’ve been feeling. On days like you describe I try to take that deep breath and resolve to be kind to myself–something I’ve discovered is necessary for those who have very high expectations of ourselves. I would give that same advice to someone else, I need to heed it as well.
Author
Barb: Yes, being as kind to ourselves as we would be to others is so wise. Oftentimes we expect so much of ourselves — thinking, “I shouldn’t feel this way.” Or “I should be okay with all this.” Or even worse: “No one else feels like this.” The reality is, most likely everyone else is struggling like we are, and admitting we are having hard days helps us to exhale emotionally and get past it.
Beth,
You always seem to have the right words at the moment I need them. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Maryalice: And your words encouraged me. Thank you. 🙂
I love this. Thank you for your honesty. It is hard to keep moving forward when we look at the temporal. Like you, I’ve decided to choose hope. I also keep in mind Jesus prayed for us in the garden. Thank you for your prayers.
Author
Gail: Thank you for the reminder that Jesus prayed for us. My walking buddy, Mary, and I took a walk today — keeping the appropriate distance and wearing masks — and she reminded me that Jesus intercedes for us even now. (Romans 8:34) Such comfort in that.
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