Angel H. Davis | Writer, Speaker, Counselor | Author of The Perfecting Storm

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Thursday, April 02 2020

When I woke up this morning I heard the words: “Drop Anchor”. Immediately a scripture that was a ‘lifeline’ for me during a very dark and out of control time in my life came to mind: “In quietness and confidence is your strength”. (Isaiah 30:15)

Though many of us have dealt with dark and discombobulating times personally, collectively we have never dealt with anything of this magnitude. The entire world is focused on one ‘unseen’ enemy. We are being faced with uncertainly and instability like never in our life…we are truly in this together.

As I pondered these truths in my heart, I sensed God saying…where are you dropping your anchor during this time?
Who or what are you trusting during these uncertain times of waiting and watching.

Where is your heart anchored?

If our hearts are anchored in the ‘things of man’: the news, ever changing statistics, the ‘prescription’ of what to do or not do. Our bank accounts, our jobs, our time, our ability to control, etc…then we will have no rest. We will be frantic, worn out, frazzled. Our ‘walls’ of protection have or/ will crumble.

God’s invitation to us today is to drop anchor in Him. Who He is. His character. His love. His omnipotent ability to deal with the impossible.

So much is out of our control right now, yet this one little power packed verse gives us 4 things we can control:

First: Return
Are we like Adam and Eve wanting to eat of the tree of knowledge? To know what’s ahead in order to figure out how to control things? If so repent of trying to be like God or do life apart from God. Look at the subtle ways we have relied more on ourself and man-made things, and humbly say “Forgive me”.

Second: Rest
Come back to the rest He offers. Read Isaiah and look at His faithfulness throughout the ages. Over and over again, the people rebelled, then repented and He was gracious and compassionate (Isaiah 30:18); like a good Father always ready to help and lead and guide (21).

Third: Quiet your heart
Speak to your heart. Speak comfort to it like you would your own child. Speak the truth of what God says: He is with you, He will never leave you, He is faithful; you can fully rely on Him.

Fourth: Trust in Him
He has a great track record. He does not change. Choose to have faith in Him over fear of the unseen.

Drop Anchor in His unfailing Love:
Put the truths of these scriptures on repeat. Instead of listening to the news over and over again, put His word on repeat and listen to it over and over again. Find songs that reinforce it. Find a scripture to cling to. Let God give you a breathe prayer. Minute by minute; one day at a time. You can train your brain to stay in the here and now. Today. He has all our tomorrows in His capable and loving hands.

His word is our medicine. And He Himself, will never fail. He IS our one sure thing.

Drop Anchor. And you will make it through the storm.
#keeppraying #prayeroverpanic #repent #rest #faith #hope #love #remain #jesus #trust #COVID-19

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Posted by: Angel H Davis AT 11:14 am | Permalink | Email

Benefits of Weariness

WOW! How weary I am. And so are many of you. I know because I hear your cries: in my office, on the phone, online, in church, at the grocery store, you name it! So much of what I hear from people today is about how tired, weary, and worn-out they feel.

Then again, you may not feel weary; instead you may feel anxious, depressed, scared, lonely, angry, or any mixture of these emotions. Perhaps these are more your prominent feelings.

However you may feel, it’s too easy to look for the source or to find blame: social media; busy schedules; technology; work/family demands; the causes are endless. Of course, these have validity, and we can certainly manage them in more appropriate and successful ways.

Yet, as I sit with God today, in my quiet time, and look over my journals, what I see is the benefit of weariness—the benefit of our broken feelings and situations.

I see, time and time again, over the years (yes, I am rebellious and slow-learning, and God is very, very patient), God working in me and through me, enabling me to receive His antidote to this tough life and all of its problems.

It is so simple; and yet it is so hard.

It is HIM: Jesus; always more of Him.

“But,” you say, “Angel, I have to know what to do with my children,” or, “Angel, these bills are piling up,” or, “Angel, you don’t have a CLUE of how bad it really is.”

And I will say, “You are right, I don’t. And you are correct, these things need to be taken care of.”

BUT FIRST, we have a larger need. Oh, the catch is it doesn’t appear like the larger need. Our core need, before bills, children, purpose in life, change in our feelings, is to be convinced, truly convinced and accepting of God’s love for us and our identity as His children.

And your heart and head may rebel like mine did.

“BUT, I need to know the answer to my problem.”

And Jesus says:

“I am the answer.”

“I am so tired.”

And Jesus says:

“I know. Let me restore you.”

“I am afraid.”

And Jesus says:

“I know, and my love will take care of that.”

That just doesn’t seem like much; doesn’t seem like enough, when we are about to be evicted or our kids are in harm’s way. That support just doesn’t seem practical enough for our human brains to rest on.

Perhaps then we’ve hit on the real source or problem of our weariness: ourselves. You and me believing that if we work hard enough, try enough, worry enough, take enough time to figure it out, talk enough to that person, ignore it long enough—whatever your “enough” is—WE can fix it. The true problem is that it’s all about US!

We want to stay in the driver’s seat and be our own savior. Or we look to other humans to be that for us. If we believe our answer lies in us or other humans, we are likely to stay in that “out of control” anxious space, and the weariness or depression or addictions are bound to take over. There can only be one driver in our car of life.

The benefit of our struggle is to be wooed into the true solution. Life’s struggles are an invitation to know God more intimately. As we allow Jesus, who is ALIVE, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, to become more real for us, more tangible, as we take Him at His word (Hebrews 13:5), as we choose to focus on Him and His promises, instead of the problems or feelings we are having, then we start to experience the reality of His presence with us. With this, we begin to experience the peace He promises.

Why? Because our problems have been solved? The bills have all been paid? The feelings change?

NO… peace comes from HIS presence. And in that place of peace we can see clearer, hear more accurately, and receive wisdom and direction.

As we “bend our knee” to Jesus’ love, dare to take Him at His word (John 3:16), choose to look to Him and depend on Him, and keep (John 17) depending on Him, then His life-blood starts to flow through us. It revives us, directs us, and transforms our thinking and feelings. Then life and all of its troubles, which are many (John 16:33), become manageable, doable.

Breath comes; rest comes; peace comes.

In this place new life springs forth. New ideas emerge and joy is eventually restored.

Struggling today? Rejoice in it, because it is calling you back home. Home to His heart of love (Romans 8:38-39), the place of true peace and rest.