How to Know it's All Going to be OK - When You're... Not

"I know I can't be the only one, who's holding on for dear life..."

The lyrics of a song I heard recently are hitting hard today, the day after election day.

As the results came in (not just of the presidency, but the results of important ballot measures) I can see I am not the only one struggling from the outpour of frustrations, questions, anger and pain on social media, websites, and in text messages to my phone.

Though there are celebrations happening, no one is standing today with a total victory cry, if they are being both realistic and honest.

There is a sense of overwhelm with the world's problems and where it is all going, and a desire to escape to somewhere, elusively, "better."

Not to mention our personal pain. It's hard to carry the weight of the world on a broken body, with struggles in our families, finances, and even in our own minds.

My widowed friends are navigating it all alone now, as I did the COVID pandemic right after Andre's death... it's just too much.

Those who struggle with depression or suicidal thoughts are treading water, trying to keep breathing, with a heavier load... it's just too hard.

We wonder:

• How to we deal with uncertainty in life?

• How do we find hope in hard times?

• How do we stay strong and emotionally resilient?

The song I heard ("I Am Not Okay" by Jelly Roll), stopped me in my tracks. It's been a hit song because so many of us can so easily relate to the lyrics:

"I'm barely getting by

I'm losing track of days

And losing sleep at night

I am not okay

I'm hanging on the rails

So if I say I'm fine

Just know I learned to hide it well...

I woke up today

I almost stayed in bed

Had the devil on my back

And voices in my head

Some days, it ain't all bad

Some days, it all gets worse

Some days, I swear I'm better off

Layin' in that dirt..."

Where do we go for the hope we desperately need? The resilience to stay, rather than try to escape? And to keep learning, growing and rebuilding when we are weary?

Wildfire Regrowth in the Colorado Mountains

"It's All Gonna Be Alright..."

Here's the thing. We can't manage, uphold, sustain and maintain it all. Not for our children. Not in our marriages. To tell the truth, not even in our own hearts and minds most of the time.

That is why it is such a relief that we don't have to. The outcome of our government policies, the direction of our children's lives, and our own stories that are being written, are carried by shoulders much larger than ours.

And what a relief it is that the Lord does the heavy lifting, because we cannot carry it on our own. There is no other answer that is more freeing, than to lay down both the load and ourselves, into the merciful and loving hands of the Father.

While listening to the song, I could not only relate to the struggle, but could feel the tension of it in my body. With the weight of the reality of life's sufferings, he simply says:

"I'm not okay

But it's all gonna be alright

It's not okay

But we're all gonna be alright"

When I heard it, it seemed almost absurd, but it also rang undeniably true at a soul level.

It is the only answer. Everything here is irreparably broken... AND, it's all going to be made right in the end.

In Revelation 21:5 , describing the end times (which involve a lot of terribly hard things, by the way), God boldly proclaims:

“Behold, I am making all things new.”

Could it be true? That the battle we are fighting for life, goodness and beauty are real, but not ultimately ours to win? Is there is a rest, peace, and hope we can have in the midst of the pain because He will have the final word?

The Only Way to Get it

If it seems too good to be true that all the suffering and brokenness is "just going to work out in the end," then it is equally challenging to take hold of the solution, though it is free for the taking (the Kingdom way is often reversed/upside down from our earthly view).

It is trust.

If you cannot bring yourself to accept the offered gift that it is by faith, you cannot have it at all. If you won't lay your burdens, loved ones, and even yourself in His sovereign and good hands, you will continue to carry all of it yourself.

In the song, the last verse is this:

"I know one day

We'll see the other side

The pain'll wash away

In a holy water tide

And we all gonna be alright"

There is something coming that is so much bigger than our temporary pains and problems. There is One returning who is so much bigger than the ways we try to save ourselves.

HOW do we trust, and lean in?

1) Know Your Rescuer

There is no rebuilding without a foundation. You have nothing, and no one, to anchor your trust in apart from the One who is good and in control, has the power to "make all things new," and who is reliably loving toward you.

Without this, you are just "holding on for dear life."

God is not shapeless, faceless, or nameless. The person of Jesus Christ came so that we could know his love and heart for our best, tangibly. He has also experienced our sufferings and knows our pains. We can trust in His empathy.

His ways are good, His judgment is sound, and He is sovereign over all things. We can trust His wisdom and ways.

Lastly, He is personal. We experience relationship with Him as we do with others in our lives (if we choose to). We can speak to Him, receive comfort and direction from Him, and let Him change and shape us and our minds and lives. We can trust in our relationship with Him.

These things are a foundation for trusting Him and receiving the peace and hope we desperately need.

2) Pray

Ask Him for what you need, for His Kingdom to come, and for more of Himself. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer (Ephesians 1:13), and is our direct connection in the Spirit to God.

We can ask Him what He thinks, and actually receive a reply! I have a place the Lord has shown me repeatedly in a vision that I meet Him, and He continues to show me things and speak to me. Other times, I envision myself crawling up into His lap as my Father, to speak to Him.

When you are feeling anxious, fearful, or overwhelmed, go to Him! You can tell Him everything in the most honest, real and raw way, and He can take it. He can also help turn it around. Bring Him all the pain and all the worry... over and over.

3) Let Him Carry It, and Strengthen You

Sometimes what feels impossibly hard is actually letting go, and letting Him take what we've brought to Him. Personally, I find myself often trying to take it right back.

He invites us to bring our burdens and promises a light burden - rest - in return. It sounds too good to be true; why don't we experience this more? Maybe it's harder than we think to give up "control" let Him do the heavy lifting.

Whatever it is that has you straining under its weight, I want to invite you into His capable and tender care, and leave you with His blessing:

“The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.”

-Numbers 6:24-26

With you, my friend,

Rachel

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