The Still, Small Voice

Many voices ask for our attention. 

There is a voice that says, "Prove that you are a good person." 

Another voice says, "You'd better be ashamed of yourself." 

There also is a voice that says, "Nobody really cares about you,"

and one that says, "Be sure to become successful, popular, and powerful." 

But underneath all these often very noisy voices is a still, small voice that says, "You are my Beloved, my favor rests on you." 

That's the voice we need most of all to hear. 

To hear that voice, however, requires special effort;
it requires solitude, silence, and a strong determination to listen. 

That's what prayer is.  It is listening to the voice that calls us "my Beloved." 

{Henri Nouwen}

Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise

 

"There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it

There was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream 'til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out"

I've been stuck in bed sick with a horrible flu for the past four days which succeeded in putting me in this really dark place mentally.  There is something about being sick and isolated that gets me in this funky head space where I start doubting, and then the doubt gives birth to worry and then the worry gives birth to fear. I know I am being tested right now and I'm ashamed to say that my faith and resolve are not as strong as I thought they were.

Today I finally woke up with a tiny bit of physical strength, but still faltering mentally and spiritually.  But I am determined to get out of this funk! The first thing I did was spend some much needed time with my Lord. I'm so grateful I can go to Him when I am weak and He gives me the love, strength, and guidance that I need.  When I confessed all my doubts, His wisdom came to me.  I still don't know what the outcome will be, but I do know exactly what I am supposed to do.  It will require me to humble myself.  It will require me to ask for help.  It will require me to wait on the Lord.  It will require me to pray this prayer in faith: "Father, not my will, but Yours, be done." And it will require me to believe these words: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11













Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise | The Avett Brothers

There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I'm frightened by those that don't see it

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected
If you're loved by someone, you're never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There's a darkness upon you that's flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what's wrong and what's right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I'm frightened by those that don't see it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right
There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
And I'm frightened by those that don't see it