A letter to my own heart…
Dear Christie,
When you are tired, worn down, or frustrated, remember this: A thousand [many more times that, I’m sure] victories have already been won for you. The victory of your existence, that here, today, you live and breathe. The victory of your heart won over by Jesus, the victory of you digging in and holding tight to the ways He has shaped your heart. I know that today might not have felt victorious, you’re raising teenagers, after all. But believe me when I whisper into your heart that it was. You are making a new way. He is making a new way in you.
I am inclined to believe that victories are won when we do the work required of us today…You might not ever see the triumph, but when the fields are prepared and the seeds are planted and cared for, the fruits will grow. I know there are many times when you feel like you could just give up and throw in the towel. But if you did, what victory might you be withholding from the generation that comes after you? When you set your feet firmly and fix your gaze upon Him, when you choose to move in His way and will, victory begins. If you slow down and take a long and deep look at the moments in your life when you saw a win, I’m sure you would see that God was there, moving you and guiding you toward the winning side.
So just remember this…but don’t just remember it, put it into practice. When you feel like you are on the bottom of the ocean floor, call on Him. He will reach down from above and pull you out of deep deep waters. He will rescue you, He will protect you, He will save you. Our Lord is faithful to complete what He begins and He will give you strength to overcome the struggles you find here in this world [raising teenagers]. He is ready to help you and ready to fight and ready to win.
“He reached from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
But the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a broad place;
He rescued me because He was pleased with me and delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:17-19 AMP