Comfort for Life’s Storms
Come… weary and burdened
As my husband and I joined in prayer, an overwhelming sense of God’s nearness pervaded my anxious soul.
As we invited the Father to handle our deep concerns, I was flooded with a sense that in the end, all would be well. God was at the helm and we could lay down our habit of holding on to the controls – by relinquishing all to Him. In this I knew that He has our best interest at the center of His heart. How I needed to rest in this truth!
Despite our ineptness to personally mange our angst, we knew that there was nothing humanly possible that we could do to move the mountain that currently stood rock-solid in front of us. This was God’s territory, and we needed to step back and allow Him freedom to move on our behalf, yet in His time and His way.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
The invitational words of Matthew 11:28 drew me in to the heart of where Christ dwells. A place of leaning in and rest. A place of coming poor in spirit, worried saint, anxious mother, prayer warrior with no answers. Come. Come to the One who knows. The burden bearer, the load-lifter, the One who understands your frailty, your angst and all your apprehension.
He knows all, yet He loves unconditionally.
Come… and learn
As I cry out to my Heavenly Father and rehearse truth, I then allow Him to teach me. Recently He has been instructing my heart with truths of His goodness, His tender mercies, His promise to always be faithful, His sovereign ability to lead and guide me into all wisdom.
He has refreshed my mind with the truths that He loves me with an everlasting love, and in this truth I know that I am His and He is mine. He is God most dependable.
He is the One who knows the plans for my life, and I believe that they are plans filled with goodness and not harm. I believe this, because the Truth-teller has told me as I have leaned in to the truth of His Word. (Jeremiah 29:11)
As I prayed, I had the deep sense that my burdens were sacred and safe in the Father’s loving grip. It was as if He was saying, “All is well, Linda. All will be well. Lean in. Trust me. Keep learning from me!”
Come… find rest
It amazes me that the world can swirl around us with all kinds of worrisome struggles, that if we get caught in the vortex of their weightiness, we can swing low into all kinds of despondency. These struggles are truly unfix-able in our human strength; but our Heavenly Father brings calm to every troubled soul that calls out to Him. This was the calm assurance that I felt as I lifted my troubles to my Heavenly Father.
Our circumstances have not caught Him off kilter. He brings an all pervading quiet to the chaos of our lives, a resting place to the storm that threatens to undo us, answers that seemingly rise from a place where no solvable solution could be found. Peace that pervades all human comprehension
When we dwell or move into the shelter of the Most High God, we remain safe and secure. It is here under the protection of Almighty God that we are safe from the enemy of our souls. (Psalm 91:1)
What is weighing you down today? Do you need comfort, relief, rest, or encouragement for your troubled soul? I urge you to come to the true source of all comfort, your Heavenly Father. Just talk to Him and tell Him what has been consuming your thoughts, what has threatened to shatter your peace, what is too big for you to handle. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus invites us to come. Come with your weariness. Come with your burdens. Come broken and despondent. Come. Come to Him and find rest for your soul.
Come… find comfort
Lean in to truth:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Come with your weariness. Come with your burdens.
Come broken and despondent.
Come.
Come to Him and find rest for your weary, troubled soul.
LINDA JANE DINGELDEIN: DIFFERENT BY DESIGN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA JANE DINGELDEIN
One of the dearest ways that I enter-in, to the sanctuary of God, is through the open window of His masterful design of nature.
Whether it be a tiny rolled bud, a blooming flower, the tinted green of leaves, the brilliance of color or intricate design – nature never fails to leave me with the deep sense that if this Masterful Designer can create all of this for me, He can also design creative ways to solve my struggles and lead me in a peaceful pursuit for Truth.
It is my prayer that you will look for ways to enter the sanctuary of God today. It is here that you will find comfort for your life’s storms.
Grace and Peace my friend.
Linda Dingeldein
Linda Dingeldein
After twenty-five years as a missionary, Linda Jane is now entering a new ministry role as pastor’s wife; where she will serve alongside of her husband Joel, in Warren, Pennsylvania. The calling to serve Christ remains the same, as does her endeavor to reach women with the gospel message, and to teach them to live authentically out of who God created them to be. Linda's passion is communication through the spoken and written word, photography and illustration. She loves all things cultural, creative and colorful.
