I am covered in dirt as I comb through the rubble of my life, seeking to find any familiar remnant from the crumbled walls of normalcy. Wiping my eyes, I catch a glimmer of something shiny buried under the wreckage.

Reaching down and brushing away the dust, I discover a lovely trinket, unknown to me. A little bewildered, I whisper to myself, “I wonder where this came from?”

“I placed it there.” said the Lord. “It is My hidden treasure just for you: beauty in exchange for ashes.”

I felt the worth of the possession rise in my heart, becoming invaluable to me. Looking around the room for a container to keep the item safe my thoughts were interrupted by the Lord.

“I created a special storage place for your treasures, My dear. It is your heart. I will fill the treasure chest of those who love me but be attentive to what you store inside. Your treasures and your heart are linked together. Wherever one is, you will find the other. I have set you as the ruler over your treasury; preserve the treasures that I give you and release the ransom of this world. Be wise with what you store in the secret place of your heart.”

“All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in You, Lord Jesus. Give me a clean heart so when I pour out its contents before You, the bounty is found pleasing in Your sight.”

Comforted by Isaiah 61:3; Isaiah 45:3; 1 Chronicles 26:22; Matthew 6:20-21; Proverbs 8:21; Psalm 62:8; Colossians 2:3

My days are filled with unforeseen surprises, Lord. The kind of events that are never pleasant and are often carrying the message “but what if.” A message packed with an invisible force of temptation, taunting me to succumb to the uncertainty, all under the disguise of another mislaid dream. I feel lost in the middle of an unending cycle of desperation.

“There are no surprises with Me.” said the Lord. “I am the beginning and the ending of all things, seen and unseen. I also occupy the middle. Nothing exists without Me because I hold all things together.”

“I am not holding together very well, Lord. How does my anguish fit into Your perfect cycle of existence?” I asked.

“There is a battle at midpoint, where you reside.” said the Lord. “But I have gone before you and will cause My Goodness to pass in front of you. Stand on The Rock as I fight for you, so you can witness My Glory in the center of your despair. I am perfecting you. Yield to My creative work: do not resist it nor try to speed it up.”

“Cause me to humbly fall into Your redemptive work, Lord God. Give me eyes to see Your Glory and Goodness in the middle of my battle. You are my Rock, Lord, and I will take refuge in You.”

Comforted by Revelation 1:8; Colossians 1:16; Exodus 33:18-21; James 1:4; Psalm 94:22; Romans 8:28

Dawn is breaking and doubts start rising on the horizon of my heart. My spirit lifts with the possibility of a miracle emerging with a new day, but my soul is hiding a secret hope that my hard service might be completed.

“I will lower the height of the mountain.” said the Lord. “And raise the depth of the valley, but you will still need to make the climb. The ascent will be difficult, but I will help you reach the peak. You will find that I have smoothed the rugged ground so you can withstand the hardship.”

Burdened with shame, I cried, “I want to be convinced that You will fulfill what You have promised, Lord. But my heart struggles to believe at times. My life experiences tip the scales in the opposite direction, making me struggle to see where You are working in the mess of my life. Please help my unbelief, Lord.”

The Lord moved closer, drawn to my humble brokenness, “My Words will never pass away and they are completely reliable; you will do well to pay attention to them. Cry out to Me from your desert and I will gather you into My arms. When you are approaching the summit and cannot press on, I will carry you close to My heart until we reach the mountaintop together. Remember My Words, for My mouth has spoken it.”

“You are the Shepherd & Overseer of my soul, Lord. I will trust You as I scale the mountain. Direct me to Your Words and help me claim them with confidence. For You have spoken them, Lord.”

Comforted by Isaiah 40:1-5, 11   Matthew 24:35   Psalm 34:18   1 Peter 2:25

I am clutching Your promises in my hand, Lord. They are the only thing pushing me forward into tomorrow. My soul and the wellness of my heart lie in Your palms.

The Lord’s hands enclosed around mine, gently moving my clenched fists over my heart. “Hold tight to My promises while waiting for their fulfillment. Keep them hidden deep inside your heart so they can take root.”

Staring into His kind face, I replied, “The uncertainty of this battle makes me anxious for the future, concerned for what it holds for me, Lord.”

“Your struggle tugs at My heart, but those difficulties will allow Me to work within a seemingly impossible situation. There has to be unfortunate things in life to contrast the good I will bring from it. Trust Me with your future and everything that unfolds until that day arrives.”

Holding me in His arms as I sobbed, the Lord said, “Be confident of My Words and rest in My hope: wait patiently for what you do not yet have. None of My Words will ever fail, My dear child. Remain close to Me and I will strengthen your heart. Remember, I always see you and hear you.”

“Intercede for me in my weakness, Lord. Strengthen my resolve. Lead me to special people who will encourage and assist me with nurturing the promises to which I am holding in my heart. May I be found worthy of Your trust, Lord, as I wait for the fulfillment of the Words You have spoken to me.”

Comforted by Romans 8:24-25, 28   Psalm 33:18   Psalm 31:24

As I breathe in the night air and watch the skies turn to midnight blue, the starry hosts ready themselves for their nightly performance. At the sound of Your voice, as You call each star by name, the curtain is pulled back and they enter the stage for all to witness. Not one of them is missing, for they are contained by Your great power and mighty strength, Lord.

But as I exhale and take in my very next breath, my attention falls from the spans of glory to my circumstances, taking my thoughts from beauty to beast.

“My constellations tell a story for all to hear and observe.” said the Lord. “You are in My theatre spotlight for audience observation. I know the plot is tragic and unwelcomed, but I am setting the scene to display My intervention in your life. Collaborate with Me: ready yourself and listen for My voice when I call your name. Come forth center stage and shine for Me.”

“Yes, Lord. Ready my ears, for when You call my name. May I come forth shining like a star in the canopy of Your heavenly tent. You are the Creator of the ends of the earth possessing great Power and mighty Strength. I trust You to contain my circumstances and sustain me throughout this battle. Thank you for Your unfailing love.”

Comforted by Isaiah 40:26