1 00:00:02,660 --> 00:00:18,890 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:18,910 --> 00:00:21,169 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:21,270 --> 00:00:24,790 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 4 00:00:24,850 --> 00:00:28,150 Speaker 1: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 5 00:00:28,410 --> 00:00:31,970 Speaker 1: and best response in parenting. And every day we come 6 00:00:32,010 --> 00:00:34,650 Speaker 1: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 7 00:00:35,390 --> 00:00:38,250 Speaker 1: Today's devotion is written and read by my friend, Susan Eaton, 8 00:00:38,450 --> 00:00:42,349 Speaker 1: author of Even in Exile, Rediscovering Hope and Joy When 9 00:00:42,370 --> 00:00:45,550 Speaker 1: Your World Turns Upside Down. I had the privilege of 10 00:00:45,630 --> 00:00:49,130 Speaker 1: being an early reader on this project, and it is 11 00:00:49,190 --> 00:00:52,650 Speaker 1: a true gem. Susan is a dear friend and mentor 12 00:00:52,690 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: of mine, and I'm so excited for you to hear 13 00:00:54,950 --> 00:00:57,850 Speaker 1: from her today. To learn more about Susan or more 14 00:00:57,870 --> 00:01:02,529 Speaker 1: about our ministry, visit MillionPrayingMoms.com. After a quick word from 15 00:01:02,570 --> 00:01:04,790 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our families. 16 00:01:10,170 --> 00:01:12,550 Speaker 2: I am the one who has seen the afflictions that 17 00:01:12,610 --> 00:01:16,090 Speaker 2: come from the rod of the Lord's anger. He has 18 00:01:16,190 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 2: led me into darkness, shutting out all light. He has 19 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,140 Speaker 2: turned His hand against me again and again all day long. 20 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,940 Speaker 2: He has hidden me like a bear or a lion 21 00:01:28,020 --> 00:01:31,050 Speaker 2: waiting to attack me. He has dragged me off the 22 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:35,190 Speaker 2: path and torn me in pieces, leaving me helpless and devastated. 23 00:01:36,350 --> 00:01:39,350 Speaker 2: He has made me chew on gravel. He has rolled 24 00:01:39,410 --> 00:01:43,730 Speaker 2: me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and 25 00:01:43,850 --> 00:01:49,430 Speaker 2: I have forgotten what prosperity is. Yet I still dare 26 00:01:49,510 --> 00:01:53,690 Speaker 2: to hope when I remember this. The faithful love of 27 00:01:53,730 --> 00:01:59,610 Speaker 2: the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is 28 00:01:59,710 --> 00:02:05,090 Speaker 2: His faithfulness. His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say 29 00:02:05,130 --> 00:02:10,829 Speaker 2: to myself, The Lord is my inheritance. Therefore, I will 30 00:02:10,889 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 2: hope in Him. Lamentations 3, 1-3, 21-24 In the introduction 31 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:26,780 Speaker 2: to my book, Even in Exile, Rediscovering Hope and Joy 32 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:31,300 Speaker 2: When Your World Turns Upside Down. I share that my 33 00:02:31,380 --> 00:02:35,150 Speaker 2: husband and I went through a season of exile, a 34 00:02:35,210 --> 00:02:40,890 Speaker 2: season of profound suffering when our oldest child began struggling 35 00:02:41,169 --> 00:02:46,270 Speaker 2: with depression and anxiety. As I sought to remain connected 36 00:02:46,330 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: to God through that difficult season by reading His Word, 37 00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:55,290 Speaker 2: I learned that God's people in their suffering and pain lamented. 38 00:02:56,030 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: They prayed and cried and complained to the Lord when 39 00:02:59,540 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 2: they struggled. And God not only accepted those prayers, he 40 00:03:04,700 --> 00:03:12,060 Speaker 2: encouraged them. Lamentations 3 takes us to a season of 41 00:03:12,150 --> 00:03:18,389 Speaker 2: profound darkness during the Babylonian exile. While this lament describes 42 00:03:18,450 --> 00:03:22,950 Speaker 2: the prophet Jeremiah's personal suffering and It also describes the 43 00:03:23,010 --> 00:03:28,750 Speaker 2: collective experience of loss, displacement, and humiliation that God's people 44 00:03:28,790 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: were experiencing during that time. Jeremiah's words reflect the depth 45 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:38,300 Speaker 2: of his pain and his perception that God is responsible 46 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 2: for it all. He doesn't hold back. He names his 47 00:03:42,140 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: suffering and acknowledges the devastation he feels. He doesn't deny 48 00:03:47,660 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: his feelings of despair. Instead, He counters them with what 49 00:03:52,380 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: he knows to be true about God's character. Although he 50 00:03:56,970 --> 00:04:02,150 Speaker 2: acknowledges grief and loss, he chooses to focus on God's 51 00:04:02,270 --> 00:04:07,630 Speaker 2: love and faithfulness. When Jeremiah mourns the loss of prosperity, 52 00:04:08,250 --> 00:04:12,860 Speaker 2: he counters that grief by declaring that God himself is 53 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:17,620 Speaker 2: his inheritance. In essence, he says, I have lost what 54 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 2: I once relied on, but God is enough. God is 55 00:04:21,980 --> 00:04:26,900 Speaker 2: my hope, and He will be faithful. Christmas morning 2019, 56 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:29,820 Speaker 2: I woke up early as I always do, and I 57 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 2: made my way to the kitchen to brew my morning coffee. 58 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 2: Mug in hand, I settled into my usual spot on 59 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: the sofa, the one where I spent quiet moments with 60 00:04:38,580 --> 00:04:41,830 Speaker 2: the Lord each day. The soft glow of the Christmas 61 00:04:41,870 --> 00:04:45,970 Speaker 2: tree lights coated the room, serving as a gentle reminder 62 00:04:46,070 --> 00:04:49,820 Speaker 2: of the season's beauty and joy. But amid the glow, 63 00:04:50,180 --> 00:04:53,700 Speaker 2: my heart felt heavy, weighed down by the previous months 64 00:04:53,740 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: of feeling helpless to ease our child's suffering. For months, 65 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,670 Speaker 2: I had poured every ounce of my energy into bringing 66 00:05:00,790 --> 00:05:04,990 Speaker 2: peace and healing to our struggling teen. We'd practiced breathing 67 00:05:05,089 --> 00:05:09,990 Speaker 2: exercises and relaxation techniques. Every morning, I left handwritten notes 68 00:05:10,029 --> 00:05:14,430 Speaker 2: of encouragement. Each one saturated with scripture in the hope 69 00:05:14,610 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 2: that words of truth might overpower the relentless tide of 70 00:05:18,860 --> 00:05:25,100 Speaker 2: fear and despair. The messages were true, thoughtful, rooted in love. 71 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: The practices we used are excellent. I recommend them to 72 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:33,870 Speaker 2: anyone experiencing the distress of depression and anxiety. But here 73 00:05:33,910 --> 00:05:37,070 Speaker 2: we were at Christmas, and we seemed to be just 74 00:05:37,130 --> 00:05:40,210 Speaker 2: as stuck as ever. On a morning that should have 75 00:05:40,230 --> 00:05:43,670 Speaker 2: been filled with joy and excitement, I was exhausted and 76 00:05:43,830 --> 00:05:46,529 Speaker 2: full of dread for what distress the day might actually bring. 77 00:05:47,430 --> 00:05:50,230 Speaker 2: I wanted this Christmas morning to look and feel like 78 00:05:50,470 --> 00:05:54,549 Speaker 2: all our previous Christmas mornings. I wanted joy to come back. 79 00:05:55,370 --> 00:05:59,210 Speaker 2: I wanted to be able to breathe again. I wanted 80 00:05:59,250 --> 00:06:02,770 Speaker 2: to see progress, and I desperately needed rest from the 81 00:06:02,830 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 2: constant worrying. I took a deep breath, reached for my journal, 82 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,099 Speaker 2: and let my thoughts and emotions tumble onto the page. 83 00:06:12,740 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: In the stillness of that Christmas morning, as I cried 84 00:06:15,580 --> 00:06:19,990 Speaker 2: out for rest, for change, for relief, I felt the 85 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,049 Speaker 2: Spirit of God with me, guiding me. These words from 86 00:06:24,230 --> 00:06:28,489 Speaker 2: Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin sum up the lesson 87 00:06:28,529 --> 00:06:33,060 Speaker 2: God had for me. Above all, trust in the slow 88 00:06:33,140 --> 00:06:38,370 Speaker 2: work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything 89 00:06:38,450 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 2: to reach the end without delay. We should like to 90 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on 91 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 2: the way to something unknown, something new. And yet, it 92 00:06:51,740 --> 00:06:54,900 Speaker 2: is the law of all progress that it is made 93 00:06:54,980 --> 00:06:59,030 Speaker 2: by passing through some stages of instability, and that it 94 00:06:59,089 --> 00:07:03,659 Speaker 2: might take a very long time. Only God could say 95 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. 96 00:07:08,700 --> 00:07:12,900 Speaker 2: Give our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand 97 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: is leading you and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself 98 00:07:18,820 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: in suspense and incomplete. Accept the anxiety of feeling yourself 99 00:07:25,980 --> 00:07:30,190 Speaker 2: in suspense and incomplete. That's exactly where I found myself, 100 00:07:30,670 --> 00:07:35,980 Speaker 2: caught in the dissonance longing for resolution. In my anxiety, 101 00:07:36,180 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: I had worn myself out, fighting against our circumstances and 102 00:07:40,540 --> 00:07:45,340 Speaker 2: demanding healing on my timetable, which had only left my body, mind, 103 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 2: and soul exhausted. That morning, I realized that the peace 104 00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:56,100 Speaker 2: that passes all understanding would come, not when the tension disappeared, 105 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 2: but when I laid down my need to control and 106 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:04,670 Speaker 2: trusted that God was already at work, even when I 107 00:08:04,730 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: couldn't yet see it. I was being invited to remain 108 00:08:08,860 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: in the tension, believing that even there, something good and 109 00:08:14,220 --> 00:08:20,190 Speaker 2: holy was being formed in me, in my child, in 110 00:08:20,250 --> 00:08:26,530 Speaker 2: our family. From that day, I made lament a regular practice, 111 00:08:26,830 --> 00:08:29,810 Speaker 2: believing it was the pathway to rest my soul so 112 00:08:29,950 --> 00:08:34,950 Speaker 2: desperately needed. I held nothing back. My back porch became 113 00:08:34,970 --> 00:08:40,310 Speaker 2: a sanctuary, a witness to countless tears and cries for deliverance. Oh, 114 00:08:40,450 --> 00:08:44,530 Speaker 2: if the trees could talk. Lament for me often looked 115 00:08:44,570 --> 00:08:48,130 Speaker 2: like tears streaming as I sat in God's presence, but 116 00:08:48,190 --> 00:08:51,620 Speaker 2: it also looked like reading the Psalms, letting their words 117 00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 2: remind me of God's power, His past faithfulness, and His 118 00:08:55,820 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 2: openness to every kind of prayer, praise, and protest alike. 119 00:09:01,460 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 2: I read stories of men and women who encountered Jesus 120 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:07,740 Speaker 2: in their pain and found myself drawn into their struggles. 121 00:09:08,620 --> 00:09:12,340 Speaker 2: I paid attention to how he met them, sometimes with 122 00:09:12,380 --> 00:09:18,260 Speaker 2: physical healing, sometimes with deliverance, sometimes with peace that came 123 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 2: from a new perspective and the hope of a coming 124 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,780 Speaker 2: day when sorrow and death would be no more. I studied, 125 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,140 Speaker 2: I asked questions, I journaled, and as I did, I 126 00:09:29,220 --> 00:09:33,710 Speaker 2: wasn't just learning about Jesus. I was encountering Him. The 127 00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:35,790 Speaker 2: words on the page pulled me into the pain of 128 00:09:35,910 --> 00:09:38,700 Speaker 2: each person, inviting me to sit with them and see 129 00:09:38,740 --> 00:09:44,540 Speaker 2: what happens when suffering meets the Savior. Each encounter revealed 130 00:09:44,580 --> 00:09:49,660 Speaker 2: the same truth. Every person who truly met Jesus walked 131 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:54,070 Speaker 2: away changed, more whole than before, if they were willing. 132 00:09:56,350 --> 00:09:59,150 Speaker 2: I learned something from my husband that helped me understand 133 00:09:59,190 --> 00:10:02,860 Speaker 2: the power of lament. He told me that therapists don't 134 00:10:02,980 --> 00:10:07,020 Speaker 2: challenge the negative self-narratives of their clients too directly or 135 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:12,179 Speaker 2: too quickly because the client must feel heard and understood first. 136 00:10:13,179 --> 00:10:16,619 Speaker 2: Once they feel soundly heard, they can move on to 137 00:10:16,660 --> 00:10:22,540 Speaker 2: the next step. Lament is our opportunity to be soundly 138 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 2: heard by God. It is our first step toward healing. 139 00:10:28,900 --> 00:10:32,870 Speaker 2: If lament feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable to you, you're not alone. 140 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,510 Speaker 2: Many of us have learned how to suppress grief, hide weakness, 141 00:10:37,610 --> 00:10:41,150 Speaker 2: or move too quickly toward easy answers. But my hope 142 00:10:41,210 --> 00:10:44,550 Speaker 2: for you is that you'll allow yourself to stay present 143 00:10:44,630 --> 00:10:47,470 Speaker 2: long enough for God to meet you in your sorrow. 144 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,190 Speaker 2: You don't have to fear your tears or your questions. 145 00:10:51,950 --> 00:10:56,330 Speaker 2: This is the strange and beautiful gift of lament. It 146 00:10:56,370 --> 00:10:59,949 Speaker 2: doesn't rush us past our pain, nor does it demand 147 00:10:59,990 --> 00:11:04,939 Speaker 2: we tie everything up with a bow. Instead, lament invites 148 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:10,380 Speaker 2: us to stay, to feel, to trust. The God who 149 00:11:10,420 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 2: welcomed the cries of the psalmists welcomes yours too. Lord 150 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 2: of the broken, Lord of the shattered, Lord of the 151 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 2: heavens and the earth, you draw near to the brokenhearted. 152 00:11:28,380 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 2: You lift up those who are bowed down. So now, Lord, 153 00:11:32,450 --> 00:11:37,089 Speaker 2: in these quiet moments, draw near to your heartbroken child. 154 00:11:38,290 --> 00:11:43,699 Speaker 2: Draw near with all comfort, all authority, all healing. May 155 00:11:43,740 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: your peace override the chaos that seeks to keep this 156 00:11:47,500 --> 00:11:51,110 Speaker 2: beloved one trapped in hopelessness and pain. 157 00:11:52,870 --> 00:11:54,069 Speaker 1: Watch over her life. 158 00:11:54,650 --> 00:11:56,069 Speaker 2: Watch over her family. 159 00:11:56,490 --> 00:11:57,929 Speaker 1: Heal her broken heart. 160 00:11:58,030 --> 00:12:03,100 Speaker 2: Bind up her wounds. And bring her safely into your 161 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 2: abundant life. 162 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen. My guess is 163 00:12:10,860 --> 00:12:13,660 Speaker 1: that if you're here listening to the Everyday Prayers podcast, 164 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: you kind of care about praying for your children. My 165 00:12:18,380 --> 00:12:21,850 Speaker 1: newest book, Everyday Prayers for Moms, Praying God's Word for 166 00:12:21,870 --> 00:12:25,970 Speaker 1: Your Children from Newborn to Emptiness, is a great resource 167 00:12:26,030 --> 00:12:29,790 Speaker 1: for moms who desire to pray for their kids. I 168 00:12:29,809 --> 00:12:31,330 Speaker 1: don't know if you've ever looked up at the end 169 00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:34,030 Speaker 1: of the day and realized that you didn't pray at all. 170 00:12:34,630 --> 00:12:38,390 Speaker 1: So often we have this desire to pray. But we 171 00:12:38,429 --> 00:12:42,900 Speaker 1: may not know how to put that desire into practice. 172 00:12:43,340 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: I'm learning in motherhood that my prayers adapt and change 173 00:12:46,380 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: based on the season that we're in as a family. 174 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,740 Speaker 1: I'm also learning to give myself grace in those different seasons. 175 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,530 Speaker 1: I know God isn't after perfect, polished prayers. He's after 176 00:12:57,590 --> 00:13:02,150 Speaker 1: my heart. And He's after yours, too. So my plan 177 00:13:02,290 --> 00:13:05,810 Speaker 1: is to be intentional, whatever that looks like, in this season. 178 00:13:06,250 --> 00:13:09,990 Speaker 1: I hope that is your plan. as well. God sees 179 00:13:10,070 --> 00:13:14,390 Speaker 1: our hearts. He's honored by our desire to connect with Him. 180 00:13:14,850 --> 00:13:17,449 Speaker 1: If you're feeling stuck in your prayer life, I've got 181 00:13:17,490 --> 00:13:23,270 Speaker 1: a new free download, a five-day prayer reset. It's a 182 00:13:23,390 --> 00:13:28,170 Speaker 1: great guide to help you get started, jump back in, 183 00:13:28,250 --> 00:13:31,850 Speaker 1: stay consistent, grow deeper in your prayers for your kids. 184 00:13:32,230 --> 00:13:35,140 Speaker 1: It's also a great tool to share with with your 185 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,660 Speaker 1: friends or with your family members that may be seeking 186 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,930 Speaker 1: to know God deeper in prayer as they're wanting to 187 00:13:42,970 --> 00:13:45,309 Speaker 1: pray for their kids. I hope you will grab your 188 00:13:45,370 --> 00:13:49,829 Speaker 1: copy today at millionprayingmoms.com. We'll also put a link in 189 00:13:49,890 --> 00:13:54,510 Speaker 1: our show notes. Until next time, friends, may the Lord 190 00:13:54,550 --> 00:13:58,140 Speaker 1: bless you and keep you. Make His face shine upon 191 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,610 Speaker 1: you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look 192 00:14:01,630 --> 00:14:04,900 Speaker 1: with favor upon you and give you His peace.