Monday, April 28, 2014

Monday Moment: Those Beneath Their Loads

 The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
-Psalm 145:14

I wasn't one of the many today who waited for sunrise so I could see what was left of my house. Or town. Yesterday's storms boomed, flashed and wailed but ultimately raged over me, headed north to inflict damage and carve a path through someone else's life. The weight of my relief is offset by the weight of my horror at what others are facing this morning.

Sunrise today caused me to reflect on these past few years that have been so... deep... and deeply overwhelming... in my life. Realization has set in that all those circumstances were allowed so I would answer one question- so I would plumb the very depths of me and resolve this: Is God good?

It was necessary for me to answer that... to spend a few years with that question... before I was allowed to move on with my life. Something unseen, some things yet to happen, necessitated a response one way or the other. Come on, Brin: is God good? Do you really believe that God is here and He is good? In the midst of devastation and shaking and hunger and war and loss, will you be able to climb above it all and lift your hands and shout with conviction into the roaring chaos: 'Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, His unfailing love for us will never be shaken, and His covenant of peace will never be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on us'?

Time. It took time. But here I am, today, settled in my soul: God is good. Better than we know. And if He promises to help the fallen and lift up those bent beneath their loads, He will. He just will. Why? Because He is good and because He keeps His promises.

So to those who will never be the same after today, I'm climbing to the highest place I know and lifting my hands and shouting into your roaring chaos and heartbreak and loss: Although everything has shaken and so much has been removed, God's unfailing love for you is as steady as ever, and His peace and compassion for you will never be shaken.

While it might not seem so today, God is good. And He will help the fallen and lift you up when you're bent beneath your loads. He promised, and He will be faithful to do it.

You have our hearts and prayers today.  -Brin

Monday Moment is a little humble little devotional to help kick start your week. See you again next Monday!

11 comments:

shoegirl said...

Glad you're ok. One of my dear friends was visiting her sister in AK and they narrowly escaped the storm by about 5 miles. My prayers are with those affected.

Gail said...

Are you going to start Monday Moments again. That is how I found your blog many moons ago. Always my favorite.

Brin said...

Shoegirl- Thanks. The storms went northeast of us and caused a lot of damage in Arkansas. (I'm about one mile from the Arkansas line!) My brother is in med school at UCA and it got very bad there, near Conway. He sent me pictures this morning and it was just awful. My prayers are going up with yours!

Gail- Thank you for those kind words! Yes, I'm going to start my Monday Moments back again. I always love them, too. ;)

Betty said...

My heart goes out in prayer for all those affected by the terrible storm.
I am glad you are safe Brin, and I am looking forward to your Monday Moments.
God bless!

Karen Deborah said...

so true, so beautifully written and so poignant tonight while MS is getting hammered bu tornadoes

Seawashed said...

Beautiful words to lift the soul.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad to see a Monday Moment, sad but inspiring! Mother Nature has her moments, bad and good!

Rebecca said...

We're facing those storms today in Georgia. Thank you for a beautifully written Monday Moment. I was glad to see a Monday Moment again. I remember a few years ago when you were writing those, and yesterday, when I found that you were back in blogland, I searched thru your archives to find a few. What a time of growth for you Brin. Yes, beauty can come from pain and trials. My heart goes out for all those in the path of the storm...whatever the storm may be.

vintage girl at heart said...

We live In Oklahoma 5 minutes from Moore so we see what these storms can do firsthand.
Prayers for all of the people devastated this year and for those lives that have been lost.

jAne said...

soaking it in... lovely, deep. necessary.

Anonymous said...

I know I'm reading this late, but I love this post, it's beautifully written, and encouraging. Thank you.