One Thing You Can Do to Navigate the Tension of the Times

At some point or another in life, we will all have a season or two where our feet are planted in one place but our hearts are in another.  

Maybe its grandchildren you haven’t been able to see.  Or the child that’s taking your heart with them to college. Maybe like me, you are preparing to move and embrace a new community, new home, and a new people. 

Right now we are all living in transition from life, as we knew it, to life, as it will need to be known. 

And for how long? 

Who knows? 

So how do we navigate the tension of these times? The messy middle of transition? How do we deal with the tension that exists in our hearts, minds, and souls – for our families, communities, and world? 

What can we do? 

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but what we one thing we can do is pray. 

Pray for that person. Pray for that situation. Pray for that people.  

Pour out your heart to God and tell him that you need him. We need him. The world needs him. 

Ask for his help. Guidance. Wisdom. Healing. Provision. Freedom. Joy. Peace.

Now I know you may be thinking, well of course Erin, that’s what you as a church lady would say (I hope I didn’t lose you to memories of the SNL church lady from the 90s but if I did, it might have been worth it just for the laugh. If you have no idea of that reference, sorry I digress.)

But of course a pastor’s wife would say, “Pray.” How cliché, right?

Well, here’s the situation. 

Just days ago, a raging forest fire broke out in our soon-to-be new hometown of Evergreen. What was a five-acre fire, thanks to the beautifully sunny, dry CO weather, sparked into an inferno covering 50-acres. It put thousands of people on standby to evacuate and many did have to leave their homes. 

Dave and I began reading Facebook posts and hearing first hand of those who had to decide in a moments notice what couldn’t be replaced to pack up and go. Trailer’s where hitched and our new and dear friends waited to depart. 

My heart broke from the tension of the reality that our homes have been our primary shelter from the storms of Covid-19 and now a fire was forcing many to flee from the only place they felt safe. 

So what’s a girl, not a pastor’s wife, to do with that tension? What’s she supposed to do with the reality that she is called to help and love a people going through a crisis but her feet are planted 1038 miles away?

All this girl could do was pray. And in doing so I joined the voices and hearts of all which where crying out and at just the right moments as crew after crew fought the fires, the rains came. 

The rains came.

So whether you are wrapped in fear from Covid or in the pressure cooker of financial strain. Whether you are stepping into the unknown of a new reality or feeling the heat of relational fire.

Cry out to the God who can open the heavens and release the rain. Pray to the one who holds all wisdom and healing in his hands. Talk to the one who conquered death so fear has to flee. 

He sees you. He is watching over you. He knows what you need. He’s a Dad that loves and adores you and he’s waiting to hear from you. He’d love to chat.

What we can do is pray.

I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.
When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.

 Psalm 142: 1-3

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

 Matthew 10:29-31