The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God.
Psalm 92:12-13 (CSB)
These past few weeks I haven’t been praying. I’ve wanted to, but still, I haven’t. “I’m so busy right now,” I told myself. “I’ll talk to Jesus soon. God will understand.” I wasn’t reading my Bible either. I saw it, sitting there on my nightstand, but it had been covered up by other things — glasses of water, notebooks, textbooks, and my laptop.
I had a list of reasons the length of my arm for why I wasn’t praying or spending time with Jesus: I had surgery, my second art show was quickly approaching, and the amount of work college assigns one person is shocking. All those reasons are legitimate, but without any time spent with Jesus, all those reasons were emptying me.
One day while sitting on my bed, I started crying. “I can’t do this anymore, Jesus,” I told Him. “I’m too tired. I’m too overwhelmed. I said yes to too many things. I’m going to have to pull all-nighters for the next month to finish everything I need to do. I’m drowning. No, not even drowning. I’m withering, like I’m shriveling right up.”
If I was a flower, I was a wilted one. Because I’m a verbal processor, I was trying to fill up on people. I would talk to people about how I was feeling: overwhelmed, worried, and anxious about all the things I felt I needed to do. Unfortunately, no human conversation was satisfying me.
Jesus — the real source, the One who takes me and my shriveled-up self and breathes life into me, allowing me to slowly, slowly begin to work my way from a wilted flower to one that can flourish — is necessary for me to survive.
Without Him, I am empty.
Only when I lay myself down, when I give Him my worries and fears and anxieties, including the things that I think must appear so petty to Him, can I finally be full. I want my roots to sink deep into who Jesus Christ is so that I can stand strong and firm, not on my own accord but on His.
I started to pray again. I began writing my prayers down and asking certain people in my life how I could pray for them. I began reading Hebrews, and I focused on how God keeps giving us grace. And slowly (because these things are always a slow, thoughtful process), I have begun filling up again.
I’m no longer wilting. My circumstances have remained the same, but my roots have vastly changed. May I never again be rooted in my own self, but instead ground myself in Jesus: the rock, the One who will forever sustain me.
– by Aliza Latta, as published in the (in)courage Devotional Bible.
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Thank you, Aliza, for this very vulnerable sharing–and my gardener’s heart is rejoicing over the image of rootedness and the slow watering that takes place when we sink our roots deep into God’s Word. There are no blinding Damascus Road “Aha!” moments in this day-to-day faithfulness, but we certainly know the symptoms of drought when we feel them in our shriveling soul.
I, too, am guilty of overextending myself and losing sight of the importance of spending time with Him each day. And like you, often it is only when I feel myself wilting that I realize how much I need this time with Him. Thank you for sharing and reminding me that I am not the only one who does this. It is through this sharing and community that we are able to lift each other up and support each other.
Wow . . . I could have written this! Although different circumstances and tasks, I was experiencing being overwhelmed which threw me into lack of motivation and further procrastination.
I knew what was happening–I needed to to get back to my “God time.” I prayed that the Holy Spirit would wake me up early enough for devotions. And, of course, He did. During this time, o was introl
I have been back in morning devotiop us tfns for two weeks mol and although the tasks remain, I am not anxious about getting everything done in a hulrry. The laundry, vacuuming, dusting, shopping will be there tomorrow. But for today, I begin with the Lord!
Blessings, Patty Joyce
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Your roots are now receiving their perfect nourishment from the the One who refreshes and restores! So many things can pull us away from that source when we try to do all all by ourselves. I know as I’ve done that too for sure! And taken on things before consulting Him too.
Wow . . . I could have written this! Although different circumstances and tasks, I was experiencing being overwhelmed which threw me into lack of motivation and further procrastination.
I knew what was happening–I needed to to get back to my “God time.” I prayed that the Holy Spirit would wake me up early enough for devotions. And, of course, He did. During this time, I was introduced to this online devotion which has been timely and inspiring.
I have been back in morning devotion
for about two weeks and although the tasks remain, I am not anxious about getting everything done in a hurry The laundry, vacuuming, dusting, shopping will be there tomorrow. But for today, I give the Lord the first fruits.
Blessings, Patty Joyce
Oh my goodness. God is speaking to me today in so many ways. Thank for these devotionals. I have been writing out my prayers in a journal the past week and it is amazing the peace that I am feeling from it. I am going through a season right now. I need prayer for myself, but I am praying for specific people also in my life. Thank you for your ministry. Many Blessings. Kimberly
Thank you, Aliza! I have been feeling lonely for female companionship lately. All my friends are busy enjoying the summer. We live on a small farm, and summer for us just means lots of added work. Thank you for reminding us that we can always rest in the Lord and He is present every day to be our Friend. You reminded us we can choose to grow in God’s rich and fertile garden. I love that image! No more wilting for me!
In Courage,
We, especially women, feel we have to do everything. Involving ourselves in all kinds of ministry, running our households, work, etc. Striving in our own strength to get it done & win His approval & love. All the while leaving Him out of the equation. We get so busy that we can’t make any time to read the Bible or pray. Thus we feel withered & run down. Our souls crave the Word & time in prayer. We need to be filled with Him & less of us. Life will still be busy with those activities. We will be like trees & flowers planted. We will have strong roots from which to draw our strength. Only God can fill us up & energize us to do those tasks.
Blessings 🙂
I found myself wilting and not wanting to pray or read my bible. Especially when not well. That is more so when the Old Devil has field day says ha I have you now Dawn. Your not as close to Jesus. That when I need to be praying to him. Reading the promises in his word more so and standing on them and beliving them all the more and giving the old Devil a good kick in the back side. But I have found I have let my pain I am in take over. I found in the past myself saying. I have too many other things too do and getting the strength too do them is enough. I put saying my prayers and reading my bible that day to one side. Then guilt of letting Jesus down gets the better of me. That I have not said any prayers or read my bible that day. Especially with all that Jesus has done for me. I then begin to thing to myself I am letting the Old Devil have a good laugh. So I say Dawn don’t let the Old Devil have the last laugh. Pain and all you can say a few prayers and read your bible. Then I do. I begin to not feel as bad. I begin to kick the Old Devil in the back side. Like you say in today reading I stop Wilting and let God water you with his word. Then my prayers flow and the Old Devil fleas. See you only wilt if you let yourself wilt. Let the Old Devil have the last laugh. Excellent reading. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little
Very relatable. I always go talking to everyone about my problems and I still end up where I started. Thank you for this!
This exhortation came right on time for me. Thankyou for sharing.
I usually transfer these daily Encouragements to an email file titled, “Faith”. This one, however, I kept in my active in-box just knowing I’d need to read, reflect, pray again. Indeed! I memorize Scripture via the Navigators LIFE ISSUES series and I happened upon Matthew 11:28-30. His Word, my (our) Prayers, Father’s Grace (see II Timothy 1:7): assurance and strength through our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ! Prayers, sincere prayers for All who’ve read, and needed, this sage “encouragement”. Thank you very much!!