"And we back" (*in my Chance the Rapper voice*)

Yesterday, I was talking with my younger sister and was sharing with her all of the emotional and physical symptoms I'd been having that pointed toward emotional exhaustion and anxiety. "I think we're all kind of in the same place right now...we may not all be experiencing the same things...but we're kind of all in the same boat." I mean those weren't her exact words but they're close enough. And she's right. Life is tough right now...for everyone. Child, if you've escaped the plagues of 2020 unscathed you've either been living under a rock (pssh, I wish that were an actual option) or you're dead (and well clearly you're not because you're reading this right now).

All of this to say, I woke up and started working on my website this morning. It'd been a thought in my mind for a while, but it didn't feel very pressing. Yet today, I woke up and started doing just that. Why? Because I suddenly felt the need to start writing again. Because I feel like the world could use the words of a transparent believer who is dealing with all the weight of this season, and still looking to God like, "Yo, God this is hard. What's up? How about a little bit of that joy you got. Can you slide that my way, please & thank you." And that is after all why I even started this website - to offer hope...for days when the world is dark.

I don't even know if people still read blogs, but we here and we back! I'd like to leave you with some words from a Psalm I read this morning that brought me just a little bit of hope. May you remember that God covers, provides, nurtures, strengthens, blesses, sends peace, satisfies longings, and orchestrates the world. He is still in control. I have felt rather low lately, but my prayer these last few days has been, "God fill me with your hope/love/joy/peace so that I may fill your people with these things." I am trusting Him to do that for me, and I am trusting Him to do that for you. If you have time read all of Psalms 147, but for now here's a highlight -

Psalms 147:1-11 (NLT)

Praise the Lord!

How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting! 2 The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. 4 He counts the stars and calls them all by name. 5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! 6 The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

7 Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures. 9 He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry. 10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. 11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Challenge: Put your hope in His love for you.

Pray: "God fill me with your hope/love/joy/peace so that I may fill your people with these things."

- Riah