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, I can rise above my human frailties to walk in the light of God’s grace and love.   

Oh friend, as you find your way through whatever threatens to consume you, I pray you will be enabled to rise above things clouding your way . . . for the battle, and the victory are the Lord’s,