Courage, Dear Heart

The wind brushes my face, refreshing my breath and embracing my hair as it rushes past me. I close my eyes and wait in this moment. A smile grows as it reflects the joy in my soul. The sun warms my skin and I can feel it embrace my entire being. Breathing in, I then release a breath into the atmosphere. As I wait, I feel silence in my soul, a peace that can’t be explained. Here I stand on the brink of something good. There’s a hope in my heart for what the next breath brings.

I’ve waited here for what seems like a lifetime, but never have I experienced a moment like this. Free of fear. Free of shame. Free of worry. I wait, but now I wait for more of the waiting. For I know that you are here with me. This moment is overwhelmed by your presence, by your nearness. You tell me that you are with me and that you will never leave me. No, I am not alone. Through my tears I see your face. When I kneel in painful surrender, you feel that pain and kneel beside me. In my difficult contemplation and self-assessment, you journey with me through the obstacles of my heart pouring out love and grace. As I cry out, you cry louder. You wait with me. You long for me to dwell in your presence and cherish your embrace. How can I understand this tear provoking joy within the depths of me? The melody of your heart rises up from my core and causes every cell within me to dance. You have made a home in me, where I belong. No matter where I go, with you, I am home and I am free to live with assurance in who I am.

Oh dear soul, don’t you see? This joy that’s within you is just a glimpse of what is in store for you. Don’t forget! Great is His faithfulness! Where you have been has shaped you. The pain is a part of the refining process. Hold tight to His hand. Trust in His goodness. The process has a purpose. The journey isn’t for nothing. You’ve come so far. Think of how much farther He’ll bring you. “Be strong. Be brave. Be fearless. You are never alone.” Rise up! Walk forward! See the beauty in every circumstance! You will persevere!! You wait, but you wait in confidence, and you embrace the intricate workings within your heart. God is there within you, you will not fall.

I breathe in the good, and I breathe out, letting go of the heaviness in my soul. I can taste the richness of your promise. There is hope on the horizon where the sun never fails to rise. I feel my very being become lighter as the burdens of life, the hurts of the past, the pain from the loss, the prejudice walls, the deeply rooted pride, are all swept away in the wind. My heart is filled with what it needs, and the love from my God is all that it needs. Brave soul, you are fierce and you are strong because of the power that lives in you! Take courage, dear heart, that God fights for you. Do not live burdened as the world persuades you, but live joyously free and abundantly alive just as God desires. Cherish every single moment.