About 8 weeks after I gave birth to our youngest daughter, Kaiah, back in 2001, my husband came home from work with an odd expression on his face. I didn't quite know what was wrong, but from the sinking look in his eyes, I was immediately sure that something was undoubtedly amiss.
"I lost my job today," Kenya said, letting the strap from his black leather work bag slide off his shoulder. When the bag hit the floor with a dull thud, I think my heart hit the floor simultaneously. There I was, sitting on the bed, holding our newborn daughter and praying to God I had heard him wrong, or that, at any moment, Kenya would burst into laughter and admit he had been just kidding.
But neither of those things happened. I'd heard him right and he certainly wasn't joking.
Just like that, our world was turned upside down.
I can recall how I tried to be strong, but underneath the facade, I was worried. I was uncertain about our future and I was afraid to think of what might happen if we couldn't replace the income that was lost in order to sustain our family, maintain our level of living and keep us afloat.
During this whole ordeal, that lasted several months, there were days I felt full of anxiety and completely stressed out. So, you know what I did? I established a time everyday to meet with God. Each morning at 5:30 AM, I'd get up and dedicate one full hour to prayer, worship and study of the word.
By doing that consistently, I discovered what it really meant for the peace of God to rule in my heart. I gained a true sense of contentment and deep-seated joy that gave me the strength to endure that turbulent time. Whenever my heart felt overwhelmed, I'd run to God and cry out to Him, which is something we all need to do. "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:20).
Does that mean we should only run to the Lord when we're going through unpleasant circumstances? No, not at all. We need Him everyday of our lives.
In both good times and bad it's crucial that we make time for God. But the truth of the matter is, we are often driven to do so out of a place of pain or pressure of some sort. Yet, when it comes to seeking God, I'm of the mindset that says, the cause is not as important as the effect. Whatever it is that drives us to the throne, whether joy or sorrow, as long as we end up at Jesus' feet, we'll be alright.
Listen; If you're anything like me and lots of other women, you have a great deal of stuff on your plate. Just take a moment to consider all the pressing concerns and demands on your time. Whether you're a single mother, wife, entrepreneur, student, career woman, ministry leader, or some combination of all these things, you can't afford not to steal away with the Father. You must get alone with God and let Him replenish all you give out on a regular basis.
Just like a pitcher that needs to be refilled once its contents have been depleted, you and I need to be refilled too, by the Holy Spirit.
God is the only one who can strengthen you and me along this journey called life, so we need to learn to make time for Him. As my parents would tell me when I was younger, "You make time to do everything else you want to do..."
Why not make time for God everyday? It may not be at 5:30 in the morning, but set aside some time to consistently commune with Him.
As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
