“but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The love of God is constant. From when we are on fire to when we are sinning God loves us. Our relationship with the Lord has to be constant to receive his word. We can’t just jump in one day and say hey Lord love you, thank you and be gone the next until a tornado rips through our lives then we come back. He will still love us even if we do that but our ability to withstand the tornado is stronger when we have that constant relationship with God. It doesn’t mean the tornado isn’t coming it just means that he will give you the strength to withstand. He allows us to come back after our period of separation and covers us in His grace and provides help but when we have the constant connection with him we start to see him in the midst of the storm instead of allowing the storm to consume us.

I used to be the person that would circle back to God when my life was messy and in what felt like shambles. I would go back to the same verses and pray that things would get better and they eventually did and then I would leave God right where I found Him until I needed him again.

Would we like it if God had that kind of relationship with us? I don’t need to use you right now, so peace out? No, we wouldn’t stay around for that, but the best thing is that we serve an amazing Father that is patiently waiting on us to come back, just like the father of the prodigal son with open arms.

But seeking God constantly helps to see him in the midst of the storm. Over the years I have wrestled with depression and still do but now on the days when I wake up heavy I cry out to God, I spend more time in the word, I seek him first because I know that this feeling will eventually pass and my God will help me see past the immediate pain I am in to continue to press forward to what is past the depressive episode.

Seeking him is hard at first until you feel the arms of the father surround you even on your darkest day.

I have laid on the floor, crying out to God, just hoping that he will hear me. I cry out in agony just wanting to feel the comfort, to feel something other than the pain, the heaviness and even when I can’t speak, and all I have is tears, he meets me right where I am. It’s not like I feel a person hug me but my heart feels this peace that I know can only come from God. It’s this stillness that comes over me and gives me something to hold on to.

Being consistent takes time.

Maybe it starts by circling back at first when life is messy but I challenge you to remember those moments when he meets you where you are. Hold those times in your heart, commit them to memory when the Lord shows up. Because when you think back it will create a calling to be close to the Lord again because you know of his grace and strength. Follow that calling. Even when you don’t feel that calling, keep searching for the Lord.

In the hard moments I encourage you to pray, talk to the Lord. Grab the bible and start to read. Turn on worship music and start to praise the Lord. When you call out and search for him he will be right there to meet you. He wants a relationship with you.

I chose the verse from 2 Corinthians because Paul was dealing with pain. He knew anguish, he knew that life was hard and he had to overcome but he knew that with God he could overcome the pain. God is our main resource, our life line. Where we are weak God shows his strength. He picks up where we leave off.

When I encounter depressive episodes, no matter how tired I am to read a devotional, even if its only 5 minutes. I turn on worship music and I talk to God and tell him I am in pain, I am hurting and I don’t understand why but I need you. I need your strength to get through this day. I need your strength to get me through and he meets me where I am. My days are far from perfect and the depression doesn’t go completely away but it doesn’t control my mind. I start to feel lighter each time I turn to him. I also know that I must take care of myself in those moments to equip myself to be strong so that God has good equipment (me) to use to work on. That means for me working out, eating right, getting more sleep, letting my husband know that I am in a funk, and being honest with myself that I am struggling and I need God.

I need God everyday but especially those days when I am in a dark place. He is there for you as well. You just have to reach out to him. The love of God is constant, start consistently moving towards Him and you will experience a love like no other, a peace that is beyond understanding. He is calling for you even in the moments when you feel alone, scared, anxious, tired, angry, hurt.

When you make it out of the darkness remember to praise His name and remember what He has done.

Lord I pray for the person that read this post. I thank you for them and that they are here for the purpose you placed on their life. Lord I ask that you draw near to them and remind them of your strength. Remind them that you will not leave them. I pray that you will surround them with your peace that only you can provide and show them what it is like to truly know you. Lord bless the person reading this post, the people in their lives and help them where they are struggling. Meet them right where they are. In your sons name, amen.

I do not own the rights to this song but love Elevation Worship and Brandon Lake. This is an amazing song about God’s love.