Sometimes life interrupts the plans we make. But God never stops showing up.
OK, friends…
Here I am.
Again.
And if I’m being completely honest, I’m a little embarrassed, maybe even a lot embarrassed.
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post telling you that “I’m back at it!”
I meant it.
I really did.
I had every intention of getting back to writing my weekly encouragement posts. I had ideas. I had things I wanted to share with you. I wanted to get back into our rhythm of encouraging one another and talking about the things God is teaching me along the way.
And then…
Life happened.
And then more life happened.
And somewhere along the way, exhaustion caught up with me.
I found myself looking at my computer, knowing I needed to write, wanting to write, and simply not having the energy to put the words together.
So I didn’t.
And then another week passed.
And another.
And before I knew it, the weeks had turned into months.
I wish I could tell you that I had some beautiful, spiritual explanation for why I disappeared.
I don’t.
I was just tired.
Really tired.
And life has a funny way of reminding us that we are not actually in control of everything we think we are.
I didn’t stop loving you.
I didn’t stop thinking about you.
I didn’t stop caring about this little corner of the internet where we meet.
And most importantly…
I didn’t stop praying.
THAT is one thing I have continued to do.
Every single day.
Even when I didn’t have the energy to write a blog post, I could pray.
Even when my mind was tired, I could pray.
Even when I didn’t know exactly what tomorrow was going to look like, I could pray.
Even when I didn’t have the words to explain everything happening in my own life, I could pray.
And I have.
I have prayed for my family.
I have prayed for friends.
I have prayed for people I know personally and people I don’t.
And yes…
I have prayed for YOU.
You may have wondered where I was.
You may have thought I had gotten too busy.
You may have thought I had forgotten about this blog.
Maybe you even thought, “Well, I guess Jenny gave up on this.”
I promise you…
I didn’t.
I have just been living.
And sometimes living takes more out of us than we realize.
Maybe You’re Tired Too
As I sat down to write this today, I realized something.
Maybe this isn’t just about me.
Maybe you’re tired too.
Maybe you’ve had every intention of doing something, being somewhere, fixing something, accomplishing something…
…and life simply hasn’t cooperated.
Maybe you’ve started something and haven’t finished it.
Maybe you’ve made promises to yourself that you haven’t been able to keep.
Maybe you feel like you’ve disappointed people.
Maybe you’re looking at a part of your life and thinking:
“I should be further along than this.”
Friend, can I remind you of something?
God is not measuring your worth by your productivity (Ephesians 2:8-9)
You don’t have to constantly produce to prove that you’re faithful.
You don’t have to have a perfect schedule.
You don’t have to accomplish everything on your list.
You don’t have to show up every single day looking strong.
Sometimes faithfulness looks like getting out of bed.
Sometimes it looks like taking the next breath.
Sometimes it looks like whispering,
“Jesus, I need You.”
And sometimes…
faithfulness looks like praying.
Prayer Is Never “Doing Nothing”
I think sometimes we underestimate prayer because it doesn’t always look like we’re doing something.
But prayer is doing something.
Prayer is bringing our burdens to the One who can actually carry them.
Prayer is admitting that we don’t have all the answers.
Prayer is surrender.
Prayer is trust.
Prayer is relationship.
And prayer doesn’t require a perfectly organized life.
You can pray in your car.
You can pray in your kitchen.
You can pray while you’re crying.
You can pray while you’re exhausted.
You can pray when you’re angry.
You can pray when you’re grateful.
You can pray when you don’t understand what God is doing.
You can pray when you have absolutely no idea what to say.
God is still listening.
Philippians 4:6 tells us:
“Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Everything.
Not just the big things.
Not just the emergencies.
Not just the things we think are “spiritual enough.”
Everything.
And I’ve been talking to God about everything.
So, What Now?
Well…
I’m here today.
Today, I have the energy to write.
Today, I have something on my heart that I want to share with you.
And I’m not going to make you a promise that I’ll be back here next week.
I don’t know what next week will look like.
I don’t know what life will bring.
I don’t know how much energy I’ll have.
And I’ve decided that it’s okay to say that.
Because I don’t want this blog to be another place where you or I feel like we have to pretend.
I want this to be a place where we can be real.
Where we can say:
“I’m tired.”
“I’m hurting.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t have it all together.”
And then remind each other:
But God is still God.
He is still good.
He is still faithful.
He is still listening.
He is still working.
And He is still completely and constantly in control.
I Love You, Friends.
I know I may not know every one of you personally.
I may not know what you’re facing today.
I may not know what you’re carrying behind the smile that everyone else sees.
But I want you to know something:
I care about you.
And every time I sit down to write, my hope is that God will use these words to remind you that you are not alone.
So whether I write again next week…
or the week after…
or whenever God gives me the energy and the words…
please know that you have not been forgotten.
You are still in my prayers.
And I hope you’ll pray for me too.
Maybe that’s what we can do for one another.
We don’t have to have all the answers.
We don’t have to fix each other’s lives.
We don’t have to show up perfectly.
We can simply show up when we can…
and when we can’t…
we can pray.
Because prayer reaches places that we can’t.
Prayer goes where we can’t go.
Prayer does what we can’t do.
And prayer connects us to the One who can.
So today, I’m here.
I’m grateful.
I’m still writing.
I’m still praying.
I’m still trusting.
And most importantly…
I’m still walking with Jesus.
And friend…
so are you.
Keep going.
Even if today “keep going” means taking one tiny step.
And if all you can do today is pray?
Then pray.
God is listening.
He always has been.
And He always will be.
With love,
Jen ❤️
“Cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7