Have you felt like packing up when what you need to accomplish is too much? Our newest devotional writer, Kerryn, shares how she saw God at work during one of these moments.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
It had taken nearly all week to get everything ready to pack. My youngest adult son was going on the church missions trip in the morning. He has a mild intellectual disability, so he needed help–lots of it! The trouble was that my body had little left to give.
We had everything out, but now it all needed to be carefully weighed, sorted, and packed. It would have been easier if there wasn’t 21 kg (46 lbs) of extra things to take, that were donated for the orphanage. My body was already screaming out to stop before we’d even started packing. Determined, I sat on the floor, tricking myself with a cup of tea to con my body into thinking it was working easy instead of working hard!
Soon the “brain fog” was muddling up weights in my head. While juggling the bags with contents and getting on and off the scales my son started to get frustrated. His solution to anything difficult is to “pack it in” with the typical comment that accompanies it, “Well, I’m not going then!”
It would have been so easy to lose heart, for both of us, but that moment was not the time to “pack it in!” With all that was left within me, I challenged his behavior with words similar to 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” “This is not the time to give up, buddy! It’s time to grow up and see that this is difficult, but we can do it together.”
He came back in and “packing up” we laughed together. I prayed for God to help us and the tension was released. The Lord knew that I needed a laugh, with the play on words too. My body was still screaming in pain, but everything finally packed into the bags in a flash. We both beamed and let out an audible sigh.
I praise God for His words when my brain is so foggy that it can’t think. I’m also thankful for a Heavenly Father that knows my need of a laugh, even in the toughest moments.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that when I’m about to lose heart, You come to the rescue. Thank You for Your renewing Holy Spirit, refreshing me when my body is truly wasting away with fatigue and pain. Help me to reach for You when my body and brain is ready to “pack it in.” Amen.
Welcome to our new devotional writer!
Kerryn Wright lives with her family amongst the gum trees in South Australia. She was a special education teacher prior to chronic illness. Her husband is carer for three of their family, who have chronic illnesses and disabilities. God has always guided them through life’s challenges, often in surprising ways.
How does God renew you when your body is screaming out to stop? Is humour part of your release valve too when you can’t pack up for God’s adventure?
Have “If We’ve Ever Needed You” with Casting Crowns. Do you feel like packing it in sometimes instead of packing it up? How does God’s faithfulness change that perspective?
Kerryn!
Welcome! I have been waiting and waiting for you to arrive on this page. How nice it is to see these amazing thoughts for many to read.
You hit a universal spot for those of us who live with varying chronic challenges that make fatigue and pleas to God for strength a top prayer request most moments of the day.
I love your reminder that although we may feel like “packing it in”, God is still the One in charge of our suitcase where we are to keep His promises of abundance and the grace for anything He asks us to do ever near. And yes, it is good to be ever ready to know He wants us to laugh with Him. That is not easy to remember when our pains are intense. Yet, it is His way of lightening the load of heaviness that can fill the suitcase, as well. That is one item we do need to pack up and let Him carry!
Love,
Lynn
Thanks for your lovely welcome Lynn! You’re a blessing.
I enjoyed the way that you took the analogy a step further. I like your idea of packing the suitcase with “His promises of abundance and the grace for anything He asks us to do ever near.” What a great picture! I will cling onto that one! I do love a good giggle with God! Lotsoluv Kerryn
welcome to our new devotional writer, Kerryn! We are so happy to have her and love her writing style.
Welcome Kerryn! You’re such an encouragement to other writers already, now you will have even more opportunities to do so! Thanks for sharing such a great message.
Love and prayers,
Bronlynn
Thanks for the warm welcomes, much appreciated!
Thanks Bronlynn, you’ve all soooooo encouraged me through your devotionals each day, so I’m glad I’ve been able to give back. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Welcome Kerryn! Thank you for your devotional. There sure have been times for me that I felt like packing it in! Sometimes it’s helpful for me to walk away from something for a while if it’s causing me some frustration and just come back to it later on. What I find is that when I get to that point, it usually means I need to go get some rest as I’m pushing myself or feel stressed about something. But as you said in your devotional, we don’t always have the luxury of tackling it later…thanks for reminding me to ask God for the help and strength to get through it!
Thanks for the welcome & encouragement Fiona.
Yes, I sure wanted to walk away that night. I would have been happier tucked up neatly into the suitcase instead! LOL! What a faithful God we have, giving us the extra lift we need at the time, to carry on. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Oh Kerryn…this so makes my heart smile! A great blessing to see you writing here, and not at all a surprise! I relate to the example you used, having been there many times with such things with my son as well…even down to using the cup of tea to “trick myself” – I had to smile at that!
And yes, praise God that His words can break through brain fog and even manage to bring laughter into the most unlikely times, helping us in amazing ways not to lose heart. This made my day today. God bless, and gentle hugs to you…BeBe <3
BeBe, thanks for your encouragement. I’m so very thankful to God that this made you smile & encouraged you. My Grandma always used to say “A cup of tea fixes everything!” The things we do to get through! Praise God indeed with His faithfulness & joy in tough times. Thanks again. I pray your day continues in smiles. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Dear Kerryn,
Humor has helped me in many situations. I recall a similar situation. My oldest son (now 32 yrs. old) has mental illness. He works out regularly, so he’s quite strong. And willing to help me when I need his assistance. He can sympathize with my cognition difficulties and my physical pain. One day I enlisted him to help me clean out our shed. He asked, “Why are we doing this?” I replied, “Because I have MS.”
We both stopped and chuckled…It sounded like I said, “Because I have a mess.”
Both are true! I can’t get rid of one, but can surely rid myself of the other.
Welcome to Rest Ministries, Kerryn. We have lots in common. I’m also a special educator with chronic illness and an adult son with a disability…who finds hope and strength in the Lord.
Oh Kerryn, what a pleasure it is to add words of welcome here to the others!!
What a great testimony this devotional is, of how God can give grace in extra tough situations! How different your personal story could have turned out! You deserve a round of applause for your love, perseverance and reaching out to the Lord.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your writing.
Blessings,
Beth
Vicki, I laughed out loud when I read about “MS” and “a mess”. I agree with you that humour is good therapy.
Vicki, thanks for your welcome. I did chuckle at what happened in your shed & could sure picture it! How wonderful that you could both laugh together. Thank you for sharing that sweet moment with me. What a sad world it would be without humour. I had noticed similarities in our lives through your wonderful devotionals. Hugs.
Beth, thanks so much for your welcome & sweet comment. Glad the devotional uplifted you. I believe that the Lord is applauding all of us in our “love, perseverance and reaching out to the Lord” & that we make Him smile. Lotsoluv Kerryn