(We Forget) the Remedy for Restlessness

I was listening to a new song by Leanna Crawford that brought tears to my eyes, but I had a yearning to talk about the lyrics in this devotional. I loved another one of her songs Still Waters; I first heard it on Accuradio. The song that made me cry is called Better Yet.

The melody of the song is the simple kind of sad song, with a few strums of the guitar strings. The song opens with Leanna’s earnest compassion for the listener.

You said it’s so hard sleeping through the night

And you’ve been trying to hide your tired eyes

I remember what that feels like

There’s something keeping you up at night, and the tired here means more than just physically. It’s the emotionally unsound feeling that replays in you.

When your thoughts become a prison cell

But telling everyone you’re doing well

I remember what that feels like

You’re bottling things up. You don’t want to concern anyone with the ongoing struggle.

You’ve been asking why God why

Do you always gotta take your time?

The spiral of whys left unanswered. God, are you forgetting something?, you question. Demoralized. Tired. Restless.

I know that it’s not better yet

I know you’re freaking out

I know you think if you were Him

You’d of rescued you by now

I know the last thing you wanna hear is keep waiting patiently

I know that it’s not better yet

But one day it’s gonna be

So many “I knows” that are intentional. Now you can see why this song moved me to tears hearing it. The words carry sympathy. These words are not the things you hear from the world, where people sell you a quick trick, including hypnosis and energy healing, to solve your pain. Don’t believe the things they say. The word of God warns against this.

“For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person—such a person is an idolater— has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.” —Ephesians 5: 5-7 (NIV)

Better Yet gives you a feeling of hope, and encourages you to pray when the pain is overwhelming. If you’d like to give the song a listen, you can listen below. It might make you cry, so have a tissue box nearby.

I want to tell you something: in your bouts of worry, unrest, and agitation, God is with you through it. He’s never going to leave you, even if others have left you. I can’t tell you why your season of sorrow has to be so long, or why you have to endure those painful sleepless nights. What I can tell you is that the endless string of whys is not going to give you rest—Jesus can. That was his message here on earth.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” —Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

Jesus’ invitation is not preaching for a bygone time: it’s one for you to take hold of. Jesus, the one who calmed the storm on a boat with his disciples, can calm the storm in you. Jesus is good to us, and took the punishment on the cross in our places. Yours, mine, and everyone this side of heaven. He did so without animosity, but humility.

“Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” —Philippians 2:7-8 (NIV)

Consider these verses. They both say humble. Jesus does not think our troubles are beneath him. He came to us to serve, not to deny us strength in Him. I don’t know what you’re burying deep inside like Leanna in the song, but when I was feeling distraught with circumstances in my life, this scripture was my tether back to Christ.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” —2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

Delighting in hardships, easier said than done.

David in the Psalms continually called on God for deliverance. That voice echoes through worship music today. David had his fair share of whys, but still had the persevering heart to reach out to God.

“I was overcome by distress and

sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the LORD:

‘LORD, save me!’

The LORD is gracious and righteous;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return to your rest, my soul,

for the LORD has been good to you.”

—Psalm 116: 3-7 (NIV)

This devotional on Learning Ladyhood makes a good point about dreading the countdown until your hurting ends instead of knowing God will be with you now.

We want to know how many days the trial will last, but perhaps the trial is not to be counted in days, but years. The knowledge of this would overwhelm and dishearten us, but to have only the knowledge that today, we are under a trial, today we have only the Lord to cling to—that often is far easier to bear.

Excerpt from https://www.learningladyhood.com/blog/how-long

I highly recommend the book Now and Not Yet by Ruth Chou Simmons for you when you are drowning in that one thing. I’ve read through it myself. Ruth is a talented writer, and this book doesn’t sell you a secrets-trove in seven short steps. It takes a narrative style, drawing from her own challenges, and weaves in scripture in a synergistic way. You can even download a chapter for free on the website. https://nowandnotyetbook.com

Take a few long, slow breaths before praying this liturgy.

If you are in need of prayer, I encourage you to ask for a prayer request on CBN’s webpage: https://cbn.com/prayer

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, stop and get professional help from calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 right now.

Liturgy

Lord Jesus, I feel restless in this hurt

I don’t want to be alone and empty

I want to accept the love that you freely give

Give me rest out of your graciousness

Help me hope in you to renew my strength

And soar on wings like eagles

In Your great name I pray,

Amen