Wednesday Word: Strike a Match

I listened to this song on my way to work this morning:

I’ll find a way to praise You
From the bottom of my broken heart
‘Cause I think I’d rather strike a match, than curse the dark
Yeah I’ll find a way to thank You
Though bitterness is real and hard
‘Cause I’d rather take a chance on hope, than fall apart

I don’t think I’m ready to surrender into the dark, no

Even if my daylight never dawns
Even if my breakthrough never comes
Even if I’ll fight to bring You praise
Even if my dreams fall to the ground
Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found
Even if my heart will somehow say
Hallelujah anyway

~Rend Collective, “Hallelujah Anyway”

The words of this song reminded me of Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV):

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to tread on the heights.

May has been a long haul. I have dealt with a lot of stress as well as some mental battles. I work in a school so the end of this season is very near, although 7 days left can still feel like a lifetime in the midst of it.

But I am choosing regularly to surrender my mind to God and take control of my thoughts. As the song says, I am choosing to “strike a match” rather than cursing the dark.

Some ways I have been striking a match to light my dark this week include:

• Reading a book while soaking in the sunshine
• Smelling my son’s freshly bathed head
• Watching the clouds roll by
• Taking care of my plants
• Setting a boundary (not easy but so worth it!)

In moments of stress, it’s easy to forget the little things that can bring joy. It’s taken a few days, but I can slowly feel my body responding and unwinding after being tensed up for several weeks.

I am going to keep on taking a chance on hope, rather than falling apart. I’m going to keep looking up and finding beauty around me instead of closing my eyes and shutting down.

I will keep turning to Jesus and asking for help, every little moment. He is the source of Light, and the source of Hope.

Desert seasons won’t last forever. And even if they do, I will still choose to put my hope in Him!

Even if…. Hallelujah anyway!

Blessings,

~Lynne