Fog swirls around my soul. Cobwebs replace clarity of thought. Shadows threaten my heart as pain continues with a vengeance.

And so the question remains . . . how will I respond?

Will I give in? Will I waste my day and chalk it up to ‘doing the best I can’ in the midst of pain? Or maybe sink into that place of despair, despondency that I detest? Will I, as the mountain is lost in the clouds, allow my soul to be covered with clouds of fear and weakness?

Or will I stand my ground against the enemy? Run to the God who promised to do battle on behalf of His people as their enemies readied to attack: Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD . . . gathered all Judah together to seek help from the LORD . . . and prayed . . . Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel who said . . . thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed . . . for the battle is not yours but God’s . . . stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf . . . for the LORD is with you.’ 2 Chronicles 20:3-17

As Jehoshaphat, will I choose to turn my attention to the LORD . . . and pray? Stop struggling against this new season of pain? Pause to remind myself that my life is in His hands?

Yes, today I believe I will. I will seek the Lord, singing praises to the One who carries and strengthens me.

I will give thanks, even for pain God chooses not to remove. For it is in seasons of pain and sorrow that I have experienced the sweetest presence of the Lord.

Just as the mountain seems be rising out of the clouds, may God help me rise above my human frailties and continue to walk in light of God’s power and love for the rest of my days.   

For the battles, and the victory are the Lord’s . . . .