“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”-Jeremiah 17:7-8
“I realized that it’s not really “faith” or “trust” if I only take the next step when it is clear and laid out in front of me,” I confessed to my friend over coffee. For all my confidence about God’s faithfulness to me and my faithful discipleship, I had stepped into one of the shadow spots in my own life.
Being an Enneagram One, I thrive with a plan. I have plans about how to make plans. I have back up plans for my back up plans. I pride myself on being prepared. It’s how I cope with uncertainty, maintain some sense of control and manage anxiety.
As you go through your day, notice when you feel anxious or worried. When those times come, take a moment to pause and offer the concern for God’s care and keeping. You may choose to mark these instances with a simple hand gesture (folding your hands in prayer, making the sign of the cross on across your shoulders and chest, or turning your palms face up in front of you) after naming the concern or by repeating a breath prayer of acknowledgement and ascent such as I shall not fear, I will not cease to bear fruit, or Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.
We hope this brings you some comfort and joy! You can spread the joy by liking, commenting and sharing this post with others.
Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.
some comfort and joy 