Though we all live in this world - and every day is one that the Lord has made - reason to rejoice and be glad, it may seem on social media that every day is a great day - unless you or someone you know is a public lamenter  or complaint-validation seeker -- yikes!

BOO to that...

... but every day is not. 
Jesus assured us that we will have trouble in this world. That we would experience earthly dilemmas while trying our best to serve heaven. That things will not always come easy, but there's a Comforter for those days and strength as a supplement - these showing up, when we place our true Joy in the Lord

I find it interesting that some are able to keep up healthy social interaction when they might be in a tough spot, personally. Most tend to stay from brute honesty until we come out strong. Until it's safe to testify. And I think, sometimes, that's wise. But what do you do, in your private time, when you don't feel like thinking, or moving, or talking, or facing the realness of life?

You'll have to do the exact opposite.

You have to think, talk, move, and face real life - so here are my necessaries - 
7 Tips for Your Darkest Days.

1. Resist the Temptation to SHUT Everything Out: 

Take a walk. Feel the breeze on your skin. Feel the sunlight on your face. Go to the park. Bring your journal. I know for me, the open space of the outdoors is a great reminder of just how big God is. It reminds me that He knows all, holds all, and has no bounds in function. His creation screams "I'm in every detail and aware of every detail. Your darkness is but light to me."  Staying home and away from people who love you may not be the best bet. 

2. Resist the temptation to tell everyone. Tell someone. That's enough.
The worst thing you can do is allow for the wrong someone to be privy to very sensitive information in your life. The "bigger" worst thing would be to have grown a dependence on a person, rather than on the Lord. I have benefited greatly from having people in my life - for accountability and prayer, and just a listening ear. But the benefit ends where these relationships are misunderstood or mishandled. Ultimately, the trials of life should draw us into greater dependence on the Lord - His provision, opinion, and direction. There is nothing wrong with having a friend - but more than anything, talk to Him - He is the one who can reveal Himself as the very relief you'd need.

3. Play Worship Music - Not the Wrong Music:
The last thing you need in a difficult moment is a song that expresses precisely what you're feeling. It's not! With no help from the song, you're already there - in a sort of despair. Even in moments when I'd rather silence uninterrupted I'd find with one swipe to the right that I needed to hear the song of the Lord sung over my life. I needed to hear a song that shifted what was being declared internally. I'd find that I needed to sing over myself and charge my environment with truth and joy. A simple song of worship, as intrusive as it might be to your otherwise long day or "peaceful" car ride, takes you right to the place you need to be - even while you may have to admit that on your way you didn't even want to go. But His presence is home. Take every opportunity while your heart is in remission, to tell God the truth.  You may even end up playing a song on repeat. You have no idea what may change when the right song breaks through. 

4. Cry!
Dr. Carrie Lane of the University of Texas - in her study of grief, found that 88.8% of those who weep experience an improved mood. Only 8.4% of subjects reported feeling worse after crying. To that I say that I too, have had to learn not to pack in the grief like it's a treasured keepsake. I've had to release it. And I admit I am a bag of tears, but for some reason, it's always been easier for me to cry tears because of happy moments. But there's honor in releasing the grief. No shame. Let it out. And let God collect your tears.  He knows what to do with them. 

5. Write Out Your Prayer. Not only is writing therapeutic, but a journal suggests there's an exclusive conversation taking place between you and your God. Face your heart on paper. Trace it against His heart.  Look at what you've been petitioning for.. wait in expectation for His faithfulness, in His way. Fix your eyes on Him, and don't do so in pessimism. Remind yourself that He is for you. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6). Write it out. 

6. Don't jump to conclusions about your circumstances.
Or at least don't jump to the wrong conclusions. God is a big God. He can give you wisdom. He can heal your heart if you give Him time. 

7. Jump to conclusions about your God. 
​Let His praises be found in your mouth. Even when it hurts. Even when it's hard. Tough times draw out your beliefs. Is He good? In your heart of hearts? These are the days that determine what you believe. Say that He is good.

                                                     ((PSALM 103))
​

God knows I love adventure. I love learning. I love seeing new things. When it comes to new turfs and the "never before" – I can be like age thirteen me in a cotton candy store – also, 30 year old me, and so on :)

I’m also a bit of a USA geek so I get a kick out of traveling through states. Just a couple of months ago, I stepped foot in 5 states in 24 hours. Would ya believe it?! I felt like I was playing map hopscotch and a bouncing arrow was following me everywhere. What did it look like from heaven? What did God see from His exclusive aerial view? Though I’d been in 4 out of the 5 states before, I couldn’t escape how this world was its own wonder – every state had its own flavor. Its own reality. Its own kind of population, scheduled festivities or lack thereof.. I went from Kentucky Derby to having a slice of New York pizza before finally laying my head to rest in sweet and silent, southern Virginia after traveling by foot, plane, and the backseat of a car.

And on planes, I'm like many of the rest of us. Amused and glued to the window seat. Just before I sleep, my eyes get wide and my imagination leaps to life again. Whole towns disappear and moving cars morph into cloud and sky. I look out – and I am overwhelmed. I’m overwhelmed by the pleasure of knowing that wherever I am, He is. I succumb to the idea that I could not escape His knowing - neither in concrete jungle or countryside. It brings me joy and rest. That in all of what’s new and unknown to me – nothing is new or unknown to Him. He is familiar with each place – each person – each preoccupation, each day. New to me, never to Him.

Nothing is mystery. Nothing is hidden. Nothing is unknown.

Yet He keeps watch of us daily, as if all is new to Him. How committed is He?

I’m wanderlusting to the max here, can’t you see the swirls? :) - but part of being a wanderlust is always wanting more, always seeking more, getting out, getting free, finding something new to go goo-goo GAH over and then moving on to the next. It then never fails, though. While in the swirl of seeking more, I’m led to the same deeper place – where there’s something more precious, a weighty constant more worth my time – only Jesus.

One of my favorite books in the bible is Ecclesiastes. The writer, Solomon, explores the world with its joys and sorrows – folly and fulfillment, the circles of life, its comings and goings, and he lands on one conclusion. None of it matters – and if it did – BARELY.

Ecclesiastes 12:8
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!" (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (AMP) “All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.” ​

A tribute to President Barack and First Lady Michelle, Obama.

Problem?  Precipitation. The bad kind. Almost didn't make it!
Snow in NJ. State of emergency in NC. I LOVE flying, but I didn't sleep too well the night before heading out. The news exploited photos of car pile-ups in the typically "sunny south" as I heard deep down inside, "If you go, I'll keep you.."

HOPE:  "A person or thing in which expectations are centered."
"The feeling that what is desired can be had."

It's the most wonderful time of the year... it is :) 
But in the midst of good tidings and Christmas cheer, it's no secret that the holidays often highlight  we've lost and now lack, or perhaps what we want and do not yet have.  And while we know the reason for the season, feelings of disappointment and loneliness still manage to seep their way in. The year wraps up and we're eager to cross over. We rejoice, but we can also be tempted to mull over missed opportunities, unfulfilled longings, and incomplete endeavors. 

You may be hopeful. You may be hopeless. 
And it could actually depend on the day (YIKES! and #nojudgment)..

But, if your hope needs to be steadied and is under attack - and if you've given up parts of your life to whatever may come, I'm writing to fight with you.