(In this Lenten series, Letters From The Village, I am speaking out from the heart with my strugling voice, through a fading art form. Letter writing. Because? Why? There is a lovely intimacy between reader and writer which rests in the lines of a letter. Break the seal, open the thin glue lined envelope, pull the paper from its home in the nestled space and read.)
Dear Sad You,
Hold on tight to the Lover of Your Soul in these dark times. When much seems bleak and the world is cloaked in hurt and you wear a heavy coat of confusion, cling and grasp your God. His very hand.
And if these times were not ,would you hold on tight like the barnacles on boat bottom, hull hold fast? Do you embrace hard, white-nuckle in need and cling as the Confederate Jasmine to the lamppost when all is calm?
This place of self-sufficient stillness leaves you untethered in pride and independence, one step away or farther from your Christ.
If not for the whirling times, the turbulent stirrings in your world would you rest assured, rest alone, one step away from the Comforter.
Dear sad one, it is hard, so hard to see in this fog of war, a war in your very world. But throw your life-line to the One who calms the seas and guards your boat and loves you with unfailing love. And know that Joy comes in the morning.
Grab hold in love. Squeeze tight the line. And put on the lens of faith. That on the other side is recovery from the squalls and lessons learned in rocky times. And the same God, unchanging, always loving, remains before the storm, through the storm, and on the other side.
Look through the lens of faith and trust. Look through the lens of faith and know.
Look ahead assuredly with a knowing. Joy comes in the morning. Read the unchartered places as chartered. Steer ahead in confidence and faith. Waver not. Worry not.
And begin to set the table of celebration during the pitch and toss of your vessel. Because when the waters calm and the swells die out, you will throw a party in your soul and celebrate what you now know anew. You will glean the glory from the storm. And what is evident in the light will bring you closer to the Protector.
Sad one, celebration longs to throw her confetti high and colorful in the air. Where the winds of change can carry it away in joyous currents of rightful praise.
It will sail away on the winds of sweet release.
And Joy will come and the Light will be radiant, blinding even. On the other side of the storm. The blinding blue sky hovers over the horizon of doubt and gloom.
Welcome Joy as she waits to reclaim her rightful place.
And rest in and on the safe place. Hover under the Protector’s coverage, safe and dry. Warm and loved.
Then tell. Speak of Him who brought you through.
Dear broken heart put on the lens of faith and wipe the fog from your shattered view. Restoration of the broken and recovery from the wreckage wait in love, right round the next turn.
Joy is sweeter, so much sweeter after the winds have whipped your ship and tangled your heart in the messy. After your time up on the rocky hard places, sip from the cup of Joy.
And the mystery of this is just that. The Joy tastes sweeter after the choppy trip through rough times.
Then rest. Know He is good, your God. And thank. Savor and see. That He is good. So good, sweet one.
Your Joy has come in the morning. Sing a song of praise.
joining Emily, Ann, and Jennifer
elizabeth w. marshall 
This is so true – The Joy tastes sweeter after the choppy trip through rough times. I read something yesterday that echoes this thought. It helps one walk through pain when we know perspective lies just over the hill on the horizon. Lovely encouragement Elizabeth. Look forward to our lunch in a few.
Thanks Shelly, can’t wait either. Its been way too long. And its a gorgeous day….just perfection.
You have a knack for opening the door and shedding light on my own struggling thoughts – thank you! Love how you are capturing photos of boat names, weaving them in to your letters. “begin to set the table of celebration in the pitch and toss of your vessel…” reminds me of Psalm 23
I am going back to read Psalm 23 in several translations. Love to you sweet one.
So sorry you are hurting. Thankful you can so beautifully express the pain.
Love you. You are life-giving, sissy.
breathing this in deep today…
Breathing right beside you. Taking deep breathes and trying to remember about the JOY and the JOY-giver, granter and creator.
“speak of him who brought you through”… Yes tell the story. We go through things at times so we can share with others the gift we learned in the process. Love this beautiful ‘sharing’.
Yes friend it helps to hear the stories of healing, redemption and overcoming. They build faith. Alwaysa joy to have you here.
“And begin to set the table of celebration during the pitch and toss of your vessel” — how I adore this line, Elizabeth. To me, this is joy in a beautifully laid down metaphor. I have often described to my girls that joy is an anchor, so I especially loved reading your exploration today. Thank you.
Yes, joy as an anchor. How I will hold on to that beautiful imagery of yours. The rope, the anchor I need it all to hold me…all He gives and grants.
What an encouraging word for anybody still riding the storm out. Thank you so much for sharing this one in community, Elizabeth.
Thank you for offering up your beautiful space for community and for stories. And thanks too for Twitter love.
Dear Elizabeth
It is through these hard times that we exercise those faith muscles, don’t we! And I love those conversation with myself when the going gets tough! Don’t you find that it clears the stuffy stuff in the mind? Over via Emily’s!
Much love
Mia
Mia, so well said. Yes yes amen. Thanks for bringing your faith and your encouragement over this way.
This is such a beautiful picture of the joy and the storm. Love this: “Dear broken heart put on the lens of faith and wipe the fog from your shattered view. Restoration of the broken and recovery from the wreckage wait in love, right round the next turn.”
Visiting today from Jennifer’s #TellHisStory community. Pray you’re able to experience that Joy deep down today. -l
Thank you for encouraging me Lauren. And I’m preparing the joyous celebration as the storms moves on…for now. Raising my glass and throw a piece or two of confetti. Your presence here is gift.
what a lovely mediation! This letter-writing format is interesting; it really has a different feel from most blogs, doesn’t it
Oh friend, I know that wind tossed existence well these days..that white knuckle clenching, the fear of letting go… together let us grab hold of that joy promise and fall into places of grace.
And begin to set the table of celebration during the pitch and toss of your vessel. Oh, I LOVE this line. I love this tender form of writing to self. I love your heart, and how kindred it is. Bless you.