Comfort When You Miss What Was - Your Nightly Prayer - September 14

Comfort When You Miss What Was

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Immediately after graduating from college, I fell mysteriously ill. Without warning, I went from the girl who ran and danced daily to one who could barely walk up the stairs. 6 months later, I was diagnosed with 10+ physical and mental health issues. For the last 8 years, I’ve wrestled with this new body. Not one given to me in Heaven, but the scarred one I have to learn to live with here on earth.

For many of us, we miss what once was. We miss being happy, being healthy, or being a child. Maybe we miss a spouse or relative, or what life was like before pain, sickness, or sorrow entered the picture. Longing for what was can be incredibly painful. Because one, we don’t know if what was will ever be again, and two, we have to be okay if what remains for the foreseeable future.

When I was first diagnosed with all of these conditions, my life was flipped upside down. I didn’t know how to function, let alone figure out my twenties. Now at 30, I’m still navigating the choppy seas. But I’ve learned this: There is a time for everything under the heavens, and God wastes nothing. I don’t believe He desires for us to be in pain or experience this fallen world, but when sin entered the picture, we messed up this life badly.

Your and my hardships don’t always equate to sin. In fact, most struggles often come from living in a broken world. But when we face these difficulties, we do have a choice: to point others to Jesus in the midst of them, or drive them away. I’m not saying we have to act like life is fine when it’s not, but I am encouraging us to remember that God can and will use everything for His good if we allow Him to.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, we see that the author believes life is meaningless. In exploring everything in the world, he realizes that eternal satisfaction alone can only be found in Heaven. But, while we’re on this earth, there is a time for everything, even if we don’t presently understand it in the moment.

Our job isn’t to fake our emotions or display the life of a perfect Christian. Our goal is to point others to Jesus amidst our greatest trials. For God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And He can use us even when we miss what was.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Jesus, over the years, my life has changed immensely. I miss my healthy body. I miss my friends and family members who have passed on from this life. I miss the hope and trust I had before pain entered the picture. But even here, Lord, remind me that there is a time for everything in this life. And though I struggle to comprehend it, you can and will use it for my good and your glory. As I grieve, comfort me, Lord. Give me hope that what you’re doing now is good, even if it doesn’t feel good right now. I love you, Jesus. Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Take time to journal about the life you miss. Where have you struggled to trust God in what He’s doing now? Talk to Him about these things while taking a walk in nature.

2. Go outside and look at some leaves falling off the trees. Put one in your journal. Then, write a poem about the beauty of God using us in different seasons.

3. Read chapters 1-3 of Ecclesiastes. Meditate on what the Lord may be speaking to you.

Agape, Amber

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.

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