Conquering Defeat

Melancholy hovers without reason.

I'm tired, tired of thinking, of striving, of planning, sick of my weaknesses, of worrying about others, of keeping myself in check, of fighting wrong thoughts, of squeezing every last ounce out of each day.

I know a portion of my battle is self-imposed, expectations I place on myself I would never put on others. Yet even those involve the power of suggestion from a higher source. The prince of darkness revels in my ability to defeat myself. My weary soul wants to say, "Whatever. I give up," but God, in His merciful way, steps in, whispering a soothing word.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

He tells me to shut off my brain, to stop trying to figure everything out.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

He gives me permission to rest. He says I don't have to be "on" at all times.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

He reminds me to enjoy His goodness and blessings, both big and small.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

He says, "I AM, so you don't have to be."

My spirit takes a deep breath and sighs. This is why He is called Father. And though I don't completely understand how to be still, I want to. I will remember it is God who works in me to will and to act according to His good purpose. I will stop pressing on in my own power. I will lean into Him as a child, trusting His plan.

And I will let Him do the fighting.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

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