What a year. What a crazy, tumultuous year! I could spend a lot of words describing this past year but I know I don’t need to. We all know. In one way or another, every one of us has reached the crest of a wind-driven wave and followed the falling curl into the foaming waters below. We’ve felt the crashing currents tugging us one way then pushing us another way. Into the midst of all the storms of reality, competing voices have risen on so many soapboxes that you can become dizzy trying to follow them all.

If you are like me you’ve spent more than one time of prayer looking to Abba and crying out, “What!? Why!? When are you going to do something? How are you going to deal with this?” And those questions can apply to so many things—not just the Covid-19 pandemic. If you’re reading this, I’m sure you can think of all the areas where your prayers of lament and—let’s be honest—complaining apply. I don’t think there is anything wrong with lamenting or complaining to Abba. In fact, the way God so graciously and patiently listens to me when I pour out the frustrations in my heart is one way He shows me the depth of His love.

Today, I received some good news after three days of not knowing whether it would be good or not. It could have been terrible news. Yet, it wasn’t and I was able to take a deep, relieved breath. One more storm navigated. One more challenge is overcome. Through it all, Jesus faithfully sat with me lending me peace and comfort as I did my best to keep my focus on Him and not my circumstance. At times, I am good at that. At other times, I struggle. Even in the moments when my heart raced a little more than usual, Jesus drew near. I could hear him saying, “I am with you in this. I am right here.” I saw Him sitting on a rock, calm and at peace…no hint of worry on his face. What a comfort that picture has been for me the last few days. This is the true blessing of hearing His voice.