Dear restless heart

What a week I would never want to repeat. This week I was broken, confused, fearful, and anxious. I made decisions and thought thoughts that reflected those sins. Each day seemed like such an incredible struggle, that I was nearly paralyzed. It was all I could do to keep putting one foot in front of another. And the even more difficult and uncomfortable part was that my shortcomings were blindly obvious to the whole world, especially to people or organizations I really care about! Yes, world, Laura does not have it all together.

But something amazing happened as I confessed my failings to God, my friends, and my family. Nobody turned their back on me, but were incredibly encouraging and supportive. I realized, maybe for the first time in my life, how I am truly, deeply loved! Instead of feeling lost and alone, I felt like the most blessed person on earth. The Lord forgave me. The Lord made His love known. The Lord gave me hope anew. Friends guided me. Friends encouraged. Friends hugged me. Friends did crazy, loving things for me. Family listened as I cried. Family loved me well. Family challenged me to grow.

And here's a poem from some girlfriends that touched me deeply:

Dear restless heart, be still; don't fret and worry so;
God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;
Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so,
He has a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, recline upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don't struggle to be free;
God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

-Edith Willis Linn