Lessons From February: A Late Submission

Chain breakers, listen. I know it’s April but hear me out: I am still processing February! Because it dragged me!

I kicked the year off strongly with an amazing fast that left me energized and ready to take on the year.

But February had other plans for me.

The first week of February, I got sick with a terrible cold that threw me completely off my disciplines.  And then spiritual warfare hit and sent me on a rollercoaster.

Life is funny that way. Always reminding us of how NOT in control we truly are.

Chain breakers, I must be honest and admit when this bout of spiritual warfare hit, I folded. This wasn’t your typical “rut” that we all fall into from time to time. There was a heaviness. A darkness. And I completely gave in to the intense negative thoughts and emotions I was experiencing. My gaze shifted from the Lord and I quickly felt the impact of that.

I kept thinking, all this fasting, praying, discipline, and for what? What is the point?

I was so ashamed of the way I handled this attack that it took me weeks to truly recover. I found myself embarrassed before the Lord. I felt so distant from Him and I didn’t know what to do about it. I felt that I needed some intense plan of action, detox, fast, SOMETHING to get me “back on track.” 

But one day, I pushed myself to have quiet time with the Lord despite how I was feeling. In that time, I felt in my heart: “just come back.”

And just like that, I did. I repented and allowed the Holy Spirit to renew my mind.

It was that simple.

I still wrestle with wanting to understand the point of it all.

But today, I choose to accept the simplicity in the notion that we can simply return to the Lord. 

No shame. No judgment. Just our Father waiting with open arms to welcome us back when we fall.

Still fully God. Still fully able.

To remind us that He’s been there all along.

What a blessing.

I am still pulling so many nuggets of wisdom from February.

But, I want to encourage a chain breaker who feels distant from the Lord to just go back to Him.

No theatrics necessary.

I promise He is right there waiting on you. And if my promise isn’t enough to convince you, please trust His.

I am so grateful for a love so deeply complex, yet so incredibly simple.

Gratitude Prompt: COMMENT below, what was something that came out of February that you are still grateful for today?

Be free, Chain Breakers! And if the Lord allows, I will catch y’all on the next one!

Freely,

Latiera