Skip to main content

The Week

Visit my home church here to view the message that renewed my confidence!

Have you ever had “one of those days”? This week, I had about four of them. Between the stress of work, uncertainties at home, and general fatigue, my spirit has taken a beating.

I am blessed to love my job. But Monday after work, I spent about twenty minutes scrubbing obscenities off the girls’ bathroom wall next to my classroom. Extra responsibilities like this aren’t often discussed, but it kept someone else from having to spend the twenty minutes doing it. Tuesday was when I let the hammer fall about proper bathroom etiquette. I teach 8th grade, and I hold students to high standards of behavior. This combination of chaotic energy and expression of frustration left me feeling completely drained by Tuesday night.

After this, Wednesday brought on physical pain as my body began to flare with inflammation. These flares are usually caused by stress, change in weather, or difference in foods. All of these were factors in full swing, causing my body to rebel against itself, making me miserable.

Thursday, word reached me that a beloved cousin is fighting cancer, and it is very serious. I spent the evening sobbing and praying on her behalf.

Friday was relatively quiet, but the events of the week had taken their toll, leaving me in emotional shards. By Saturday (yesterday), just trying to plan the family Christmas Eve meal  caused me to become a blubbering mess! I spent the majority of the day asleep, having exhausted my heart and mind with so many decisions, discipline, and diversions.

Of course, God knows how to meet us where we are. That’s why Jesus came. The word of hope today was delivered like an arrow that pierced my very soul. I felt Jesus whispering, “Hey. I see that bad week. But don’t give up. I’m still on your side.”

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! (Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

In awe, I joined my fellow brothers and sisters in response to the word, thankful in knowing that the God of the universe see me and knows the intricacies of my everyday life. Dumbfounded again by His perfect words at His perfect time, I prayed. To be honest, my heart has felt so numb, I didn’t know what to pray. But God isn’t finished. 

I am learning daily to surrender the uncertainties about life to Him. I lean into His as I release the stress and worries if this life that, in light of eternity, aren’t important. My physical body is strengthened by the joy that comes in recognizing who He is and what He’s done for me.

And I begin the new week with renewed hope, knowing that God will sustain me in every season, including this one.

© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Feelings and Faith

Vulnerable moment: it’s been a crazy week. If I’m being honest, the last six months or more have been wrought with uncertainty and so many questions within myself about my purpose.  I’ve been in a season of transition in our family with adapting to having an independent adult child and an independent teenage son-both of whom are thriving. So my purpose as a mom has shifted into steadfast support and guidance from a distance rather than rushing to the rescue, which I know is where we should be with them. This shift has adjusted our marriage. Lyndon and I are both learning how to navigate this new territory, and I’m so grateful we have each other.  My Daddy died suddenly last year, and I am still grieving the unexpected loss and what could have been. Grief is a strange journey and differs for everyone. What I know is Christ gives me the most profound peace when I feel my turbulent heart trying to sway me. But it certainly is a sadness that is layered. Because of these major life...
Post a Comment
Read more

Praise Anyway

This has been a difficult week for many reasons. At the start of the week, I was struggling to justify why I must remain patient before moving into the full calling of Unbroken and Undone and all that God has given me vision for.  It was only a week ago that I was crying with my mom and sister about not understanding why it seems like some people are able to move so easily into their calling while, for me, it has felt like my years of ministry and serving have been more of a slow crawl and constant waiting for doors to open. My sister made a remark about how hard it must have been for Abraham and Sarah to wait in their promise. I was reminded that when they tried to do things their own way, Ishmael was the result. This same sweet sister of mine has been a foster mom now for nine months. We have loved every little that has come into our lives, and it has transformed my understanding of the heart of God for us. At the end of the day, though, my sister and her husband want to adopt a ...
Post a Comment
Read more

He’s Already Heard My Prayer

This is one of the most difficult pieces to write. My dad, Steve, passed away this morning unexpectedly. He was the “Music Man” in my world who made life a song.  Daddy was responsible for putting me on the stage. At two years old, he stood me on the altar at church so everyone could watch me sing “Victory in Jesus.”   At twelve, he was teaching me how to set up equipment and mix sound. As a teenager, we wrote songs together. His love of music is so deeply ingrained in me that I feel a piece of that is somehow missing now. Things were not always great between me and Daddy. In fact, we went for a long time without having contact with one another. I’m so grateful that God restored our relationship in his final years. Neither one of us were perfect in our relationship, but I always loved him deeply. So today, I’m heartbroken. Memories are flooding my mind, and there are so many things I still wanted us to share. I know the coming days will be filled with waves of grief and the st...
Post a Comment
Read more