It’s new every morning.
So I will wake,
and spend my days
loving the One who has raised me upFrom death to life,
from wrong to right,
you’re making all things beautiful.– “Mercy” by Bethel Music
The irony of this brand new tattoo on my wrist is daunting…and almost haunting.
I got this tattoo three weeks ago. My friends, if you know me at all, then you know over-analyzation and planning are in my DNA. This permanent action was the true definition of spontaneous. Little-to-no thought on my part was given.
Who knew how thought provoking and the weight this tattoo would bare on my soul.
While I love this tattoo, since the ink went into the skin on my right wrist, I’ve had to look at it every day and remind myself of the meaning. In the last three weeks, it’s taken on a whole new, surreal, and very real meaning.
Because over the last three weeks, it has been hard to be hopeful or positive.
I have said more prayers than I can count.
Some of the prayers were answered how we on Earth want them to be answered (praise Jesus). Some were answered how our heavenly Father saw fit.
The unanswered prayers came at a shock like none I’ve ever felt. Loss that knocks the wind out of you. Pain that makes you cry out from anger. And it makes you ask questions that no one will ever be able to answer…except God.
Unanswered prayers, this one in particular, was a dramatic and tragic reminder that not a single day is guaranteed, nor should it be taken for granted. Loss is inevitable and painful for us here on Earth. However, it is not meant to push us away from our faith, hope, or our heavenly Father. These are the times we need our hope and faith the most. We need to lean into our God, ask him the hard questions, cry out for him, and trust in him.
Trust that his reasons and plans are far greater than anything our minds could ever imagine.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trust in silver linings and miracles, big and small, will result from an unanswered prayer.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Trust that your relationship with God will only grow stronger and closer. At the end of the day, He’s got our back.
Now, back to the tattoo. The symbol represents the sun rising through the rain. Every day, I rise up as the sun rises, and I choose to shine bright even on the days where I see dark. Even on the days where I don’t want nor believe I can shine, or laugh, or smile…I rise.
Not only do I rise, but I give thanks to the One who has raised me up. I show gratitude through prayer and then, I live struck by God’s love…even through the pain. Even through the rain.
This symbol was created by artist Noel Shiveley and represents lyrics from one of my favorite songs from The Head and the Heart, “Another Story”
I’ll tell you one thing
We ain’t gonna change much
The sun still rises
Even with the painI’ll tell you one thing
We ain’t gonna change love
The sun still rises
Even through the rain
