Psalm 62:7-8 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
I love verse eight; it’s such an encouragement to me. That’s one thing I’m still learning. I can trust in Him in amidst of chaos and uncertainty. I can trust in Him while I’m grieving over things I may never see come to pass in my life. I’m thankful I can pour my heart out to Him and cry out to Him.
I sometimes feel like I’m stuck in a time capsule of sorts where everyone else’s lives change but mine. Especially right now, when I’m in a season of lament. I’m lamenting over things that I see a friend of mine (who shall not be named) get engaged, move out of her parents’ house and get married. I know I’ve written about this topic in the beginning of this year, but I’m so tired of this cycle of reminders of being left behind. The stages in this cycle are resent, relinquish, refocus and rejoice.
Reminders cause me to first resent the life I have, which is me being selfish and envious. I can honestly say I have a wonderful life, but I also resent the situation or circumstance I find myself in again.
Which takes me to the second stage in the cycle which is to relinquish everything to the Lord. Some similar words to relinquish are resign, yield, and surrender. This part usually involves countless crying sessions with the Lord. But I was reminded of the verse in Psalm 56:8a “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle:” I looked up what that word tellest meant in the Strongs concordance. It made me chuckle because it said, to score with a mark as a tally or record, that is, (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively to recount, that is, celebrate:—commune, (ac-) count, declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe.
He keeps a record of every time I cry and, at first, I thought He probably gets annoyed at me because I do cry often about numerous things. But then I thought, He loves and cares for me so much He keeps my tears in a bottle. I can imagine the Lord explaining to the angels, in the kindest voice, when He sees me crying, “This precious, faithful warrior Abigail is surrendering her future to Me once again.” I don’t know why I imagine that but I know I’m precious in His sight even when I ugly cry.
The third and fourth stages are basically the same. They are to refocus my mind on things that are right and true and then to rejoice in the countless blessings I have.
Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
I can go through that cycle several times a year, especially when I’m triggered by something. It might be a picture, a text from some person or even a place I visit on occasion. But, as I said at the beginning of this post, I’m still learning I can trust in Him during the deepest trials I face in life.

What’s your trial?
What’s your fear?
What is it you don’t understand?
What’s your worry?
Friend, I don’t know what you’ve been through this year. I do know we’ve all gone through some different situations this year. May I encourage you today? The Lord sees you right where you are. He knows exactly what you’re facing at this moment. He knows the pain and heartache you’re going through. He knows the sorrow you’re going through as you lost a loved one. He knows you’re weary of the journey you are on.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
He will give you the rest and strength you need to get through whatever situation you face.
This song “You Already Know” by JJ Heller says it best, I think. I hope it encourages you.
Verse 1
Everything around me seems uncertain
My weary heart can’t take much more surprise
I wish there was a point on the horizon
Something I could see with my own eyes
I need to tell you that I’m scared
I feel completely unprepared
And nothing’s what it was two weeks ago
Chorus
But you already know
You already know
Everything I’m scared of
Everything I hope
You hold my tomorrow
And all tomorrow holds
You already know
Verse 2
I can’t seem to find the easy answers
Someday, I hope the suffering makes sense
I just need to know that you are with me
Even if you keep me in suspense
We talk so much these days
Because I have so much to say
You stay and listen to me closely even though
Chorus
You already know
You already know
Everything I’m scared of
Everything I hope
You hold my tomorrow
And all tomorrow holds
You already know
Bridge
Whatever I’m feeling
Whatever is coming
Whenever the ending
You’re already there
You go before me
You go behind me
Wherever I’m going
You’re already there
You already know
You already know
Everything I’m scared of
Everything I hope
You hold my tomorrow
And all tomorrow holds
You already know
You already know
Dear Abigail,
You focused on relinquishment as one of your steps. Author Catherine Marshall wrote about that in one of her books. Her explanation impacted me decades ago. She shared how her own relinquishment involved surrendering whatever she held tightly into God’s hands. Somehow, in the process of letting Him have the dream, it is transformed into something of beauty. No longer does the flesh hang onto the container—it encounters divine transformation before the Lord returns it, changed and ready.
Thank you for using that word. It has become a precious word to me as I have released some dreams into His hands. They are changed, like the caterpillar 🐛 that becomes a butterfly 🦋.
You spoke about your tears. One year, I taught at a ladies’ retreat on tears. It is fascinating to see them under a microscope. They also work in our healing. Mysteriously, God uses them to bring changes and to bring us into balance.
Thank you, dear Abigail for putting your heart on display.
With love,
Lynn
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Abbey,
Thank you!🙌🏼❤️
Thank you for letting the Lord use you again to challenge my heart. In your weakness, He is strong!!
Thanks for the four “r” steps. Those are so helpful and so needed in my own life.
I’m grateful for the reminder of the tears in a bottle. I know that YOU are precious to Him and that YOUR “ugly cry” moves His heart. But, too often I feel the way you expressed it. I feel, when it comes to ME, like the Lord is thinking , “Here she goes again. She’s all emotional again.” It’s a great reminder that He doesn’t view me in that way. He wants me to cry out to Him.
You know I love the song “You Already Know”. It’s so good!!
Thank you for point me to the Word and to our Lord again and again. He is our ONLY hope!!
I love you and I’m so grateful for your ministry!!!
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This is mighty truth from your yielded heart sweet Abigail ♥️♥️♥️Happy Jesus’ birthday and thank you for letting the Lord use you to bless so many of us- Ruth 2:12!
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail for iPhone
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