Hope for the Hurting

Disappointment sucks. Yep, I said it, and I'm not taking it back. You know the feeling, the anticipation of something wonderful on the horizon and you've been holding onto hope of the result you've wanted; only for it to come crashing down on top of you like a ton of bricks. And it hurts, man it hurts. You thought the end result wouldn't affect you but it did, and you sit there trying to be ok when you aren't. *raises both hands* I'm there sister, right in the thick of it. I was wrestling with everything and upset with God. You heard me correctly, I was upset with God. And I am here to tell you that it is OKAY to have those feelings and emotions as believers.

I had a deep conversation with the Lord the other day as I was sitting on the couch with a pack of mega stuffed Oreos, wallowing in my emotions & feelings, just trying to make sense of things...and I heard nothing. Fast forward to the middle of that night, I was awakened by a nudging from the Lord at around 4:30 am, ew like really Lord, 4:30 am? Sheesh. But I couldn't be mad because He was speaking to me, taking time to talk to this hot mess emotional express *choo choo*. Here's what He shared with me in my sleepy stupor. "Ariana, you sweet stubborn girl, it's okay to not be okay. I want your raw emotions, and your deepest hurts expressed, I can handle it. Just don't set up camp in your emotions, because in turn you then start operating through the motions, and that's not the life I created for you to live. Remember what I promised for you, that when you are weary and carrying a heavy burden, you can come to me. I want to refresh you because I am your oasis." (You can find that in Matthew 11:28) See sometimes (most times) those emotions cause us to lose sight of the promises that the Lord has for us. And my bible tells me that His promises are YES & AMEN! Was I still a little moody, that's quite possible since it was 4:30 am, but I also was able to find rest amidst the questioning.

I want you to be encouraged, because our Father is good to His kids, and even though it may not seem "good" at the moment, there is always good when it comes to Him. Our timing is usually pretty far off from His timing because we tend to like things right away. We've become a microwave society, wanting things quicker and faster; but instead, we should be the oven society. Patient. Allowing things to take their time before they are ready because let's be honest....who wants a microwaved pizza when it can bake to perfection in the oven?

I don't know what you're carrying/going through, but remember this, it's. okay not to be okay, just don't set up camp in those emotions. What I know in full certainty is that our Father is a lighthouse. He is a place of refuge, rest, peace, comfort, and aid, away from the brute forces of the waves crashing you into the jagged rocks. He's calling you to come to find Him there, will you follow the light & call to Him?