It has been a rough year. I don’t know about you, but my husband and I faced a myriad of challenges this past year. Here is a quick recap:
- We both had the flu
- I had COVID
- We also had about 4-5 other colds, illnesses, side effects of medications
- I switched jobs and roles twice and went to straight commission in the worst real estate market since 2010. BTW, I am in mortgage lending.
- Sold our house and bought another one
Those are just the physical things we endured last year. There are so many spiritual attacks that assaulted us that I lost count. If I’m being honest, I have hit that bone weary, beyond exhausted phase now. No amount of sleep can fix it. No vacation can cure this ailment. It is literally only cured by God’s restorative hand.
Which leads me to my blog title…….
It’s been a year that I felt my foot slipping multiple times. As we faced one life-changing event after another this year, I found myself saying, ‘My foot is slipping, Lord. I can’t do this. I’m tired. I’m weary of this constant fight and dark cloud over my head. Please help me!’ And there were days when I didn’t even have words. That’s terrible for a writer. It’s like life sucked all of the ink out my soul and there was nothing to write about. That’s my gut-wrenching, honest evaluation of what last year FELT like.
But, I came across this scripture and it gave me great comfort. I pray it does the same for you:
When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19
There is just something about that verse that unraveled me in a much-needed way. You see, I was a ball of anxiety wound up so tight that one last toss might have caused a complete implosion. I felt as if I had no footing to stand on anymore. Everything that was familiar and steadfast was removed from my life. Different job, different home, poor health, unstable finances.
Perhaps that is you too. These last post COVID years have been trying for us all. Our economic outlook seems bleak, according to most economist. Everyone is getting sick over and over. Our nation is on the verge of disaster everywhere we turn. Unsteady. Unreliable. Unpredictable.
I’m so glad God is not subject to “UN”. He is not unsteady. He is not unreliable. And although He may act in unpredictable ways, His love is always predictable. It will always be there; no matter if we face another COVID pandemic, financial catastrophe or a terrible disaster of some type. That’s because His love is unfailing. Do you know what unfailing means…………..uh it means it can’t fail. Like ever. Nothing can make it fall apart, not succeed or miss its mark. It’s a flawless plan that nothing sent by the enemy can take out. It is bound for success, no matter what it looks like, feels like, acts like, sounds like. It is 100% unfailing.
I love that. I love it because I am a failing human sometimes, but I can trust a God that is unfailing. The pressure is on Him, not me. All I have to do is realize the unfailing love is there to support me in every season of my life. There isn’t a season or circumstance that He isn’t right smack in the middle of with me. It’s the complete lie of satan to make us feel alone in our discomfort or suffering. But hasn’t He said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you’? (Hebrews 13:5, Deut 31:6).
My grandson, who is 2 and calls me Shabby, always says this phrase to me and I can’t stop thinking about it as I’m writing this. When he is scared and it’s time for a nap or bedtime, I lay him down and he says, “Shabby right here”, to which I respond, “Yes, Shabby right here baby”. If I try to leave before he falls asleep, he cries hysterically until I come back and stay with him. I have to keep telling him over and over, “Shabby right here” until he finally falls asleep.
Isn’t that us? Do we ever grow up so much that we don’t need to be reminded that our Father is right here? With us in the fire, with us in the flood, in the drought, in the famine, in the plenty, on the mountain, in the valley and everything else in between.
He is unfailing, and he will never leave us or forsake us.
Amen and amen.
