We all know that our Enemy is a pro at playing games with our minds, right?
Let me tell you about the lie that Satan whispers to me… and if I believe it, my heart is nearly immobilized with discouragement.
(Maybe you will relate to this too?)
Nothing you do matters. You’re wasting your time. No one even cares, no one notices.
More than loneliness, more than fear, more than just about anything else… when I believe the lie that I am invisible, that my life is too small to matter, well, I am in a very bad place!
The God-given dreamer and idealistic part of me longs to make a difference.
To live a life of purpose.
To wake up every day and know that my life matters beyond simply existing in a space.
And life seems to provide plenty of seasons where we might feel trapped in small spaces of life.
The small spaces of unreached ideals or expectations.
The small spaces of loneliness.
The small spaces of an unfulfilling job or a struggling ministry.
The small spaces of prolonged sickness, strained relationships, or misunderstanding.
I know those difficult, suffocating, impossibly small emotional places.
The ones that fold in on your horizons a little more every day.
I’ve been there. And sometimes, I still find myself there (remember those lies I am tempted to believe?).
Those small places feel impossibly hard, especially for the heart that longs to soar.
I want to remind us all to-
Park our minds in Truth.
Yes, our Enemy is a master liar, so we must learn to recognize his tactics.
I told you the lie that Satan whispers often in my ear. Maybe the lies that attack your mind sound something like this-
This will never change.
You will always feel this way.
You are ruining your children/marriage/ministry/relationships.
There’s no hope for moving on.
It’s so easy to allow our minds to sink deeper and deeper into the muck of these, and many other untruths.
We must refuse to dwell in the dark places.
Steer your mind toward the truths of God’s faithful nature and His unchanging Word; let’s park our minds there.
Ask God what you (and I) can learn from this.
I don’t mean, Ask God what He is trying to teach you, but, Ask God what you can learn.
There is a difference.
I don’t believe God thrusts us into difficult circumstances in order to “teach us a lesson.”
The beautiful, redemptive side of Romans 8:28 is that God can mold and shape and grow us, even in the midst of the most difficult experiences and seasons of life.
Embracing a posture of “what can I learn from this, Lord?” silences the voices in my head that want to turn me into a victim of circumstances beyond my control.
It also silences those defeating lies.
Reach out to someone for prayer and support.
Emotionally difficult spaces become impossibly small when we feel like there are no outlets for expression or support.
My natural tendency is to withdraw when I feel down. I’ve learned the hard way that I am most vulnerable when I remove myself from sources of support and strength.
Reaching out is like thrusting open a window in your tiny space; the fresh air of friendship will strengthen you emotionally, spiritually, and even physically!
Don’t let pride or fear keep you from reaching out to a trusted friend or mentor.
I am blessed to have a few, very dear friends (some older mentors, and a few friends my age) who are literally a phone call or a text away.
There is comfort and strength in community!
Be encouraged, sweet friend!
God sees where you are today.
Whether you’re walking in pleasant, abundant places, or struggling through those small, seemingly invisible spaces of life, God sees.
And He is working. Those are truths you can hold on to!
What will you learn in this place of difficulty? Only God knows, but don’t miss the journey of faith because you believed the lies of the enemy.
Who will you reach out to? Your sisters in Christ. (I’m an email away if you need to chat!)
HUGS and FRIENDSHIP!
I’d love to connect with you in one of my Facebook groups: pastor’s wives, homemakers, homeschooling moms.
Have something to say?
Related Posts
How Well Do You Know Your Father?
The Pastor’s Wife’s Prayer
The Christ-Like Pastor’s Wife | Aware, part 2
When Ministry Rains on Your Parade
The post God Sees You {for those times when you feel lost in the smallness of life} appeared first on Kristy's Cottage {blog}.