Tag: encouragement

How to Soar

I wrote this poem several days ago but haven’t been able to post it until now. It was inspired by something incredibly sweet that was said to me by a friend – words that really encouraged me and made me feel like God was using me to be a help to her.

How to Soar

Tears of joy stream down my cheek…
I’ve never felt this way before;
That God, who answers as I seek,
Has led me through an open door.
The choices I’ve made – both bad and good –
He’s used to cleanse and change my heart,
Even though I have never understood
Why He’s allowed the things that tore me apart.
I know my God is good – He’s proven it’s true;
And He’s shown me time and time again
That if I will only follow His cue,
He’ll guide and direct me to the end.
I don’t know what He has in store,
But I know He wants what’s best for me;
He’s slowly teaching me how to soar
How to let go, and how to live as free.

© by Crystal Knauss

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

Within Your Love

Within-Your-Love-photo.png

Deep within Your love
Is where I want to be…
From this very moment
Throughout all eternity.
Pursue me with Your kindness,
Envelop me in Your care;
Cover me with Your grace,
I long to be held there.
There’s no person in the world
Your love does not embrace;
From this earth, to the stars,
And through all of time and space.
You desire our affection
Even though You are Lord of all;
You see every time we’re hurting,
And You hear us when we call.
It’s too much for me to imagine –
Far greater than I can comprehend,
That the God of all creation
Desires to be my friend!
But I hold on to Your promise;
I know Your Word is true.
Father, I am so grateful:
Because You love me, I can love You.

Written by Crystal Knauss

Just the Right Time

God has the best timing. I really don’t know how He does it. 🙂 He allowed just the right song to play on my car radio at just the right time, when I felt overwhelmed to the point of giving up.

I’ve been titrating down on the medications I take for depression, anxiety, and OCD so that my Hubby and I can try to have a child. Over the past two months I’ve gone from taking five medications to just one – and needless to say, it has been extremely difficult. My depression has worsened, my anxiety level has been sky-high, and my obsessive thoughts are almost constant. But my psychiatrist is assured that I’ll be able to handle things through deep breathing and mindfulness. Also, the constant support of the Lord and the love and encouragement from family and friends has pulled me through to this point.

The song that I heard on the radio is called “I Will Lift My Eyes,” and it is sung by Bebo Norman. I’ve heard the song before, but it was especially poignant tonight and it caused tears to stream down my face. It’s been a long time since I’ve really cried – the medicines that I’ve been taking caused me to feel very dull and rather emotionless. But it felt good to release pent-up thoughts and feelings in the form of tears, and to be uplifted by the words of the song. A few of the lyrics are:

“I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
the Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
so hold me now…”

If you’re struggling with something and you feel like there is no hope and there is no help…please don’t give up. God is there – even if it doesn’t seem like it – and He will break through the hurt, the pain, the thoughts, the fears…and speak to your heart in just the way you need, and at just the right time. How do I know? Because He promises to be our Help, and because He just did this for me.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – 
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
The Maker of heaven and earth. ”
~ Psalm 121:1-2

 

Photo by Paul Gilmore on Unsplash