January… YUCK! You’re gross. You make me feel gross, you look gross, and I am SO done with you. Although, while I’m dumping blunt transparency, truthfully your successor isn’t much more welcome around here either.

This is harsh, I know. I should never think, speak, or post anything of the sort. You’re possibly shaking your head in disgust wondering how a so-called “Christian” could utter such ungrateful words of negativity about God’s creation.

Maybe for you, everything is awesome and you have summer sunshine pouring out your pores even when the rain falls hard and the cloud cover is dense. I sure hope so! 

Or maybe, you catch yourself mentally confessing similar darkened feelings with me?

Yes, I have a hunch you’ve got some discontentment you are trying to suppress too.

The truth is, everything is not always awesome. And your current outlook may lean more toward overcast doldrums than picturesque landscapes. (Especially if your winter location is dreary like mine.)

And that’s OK. I am here to empathetically disclose that you are definitely not alone, to personally offer you some grace today, and also to remind us both that God showers us with unlimited grace EVERY day.

It’s always a good a idea to take the “yuck,” intended to be lifted up to HIM, and expose it to his always abundant light. He will infuse you with hints of peace, comfort, joy, and the hope of a good future. Try it! As you learn to saturate your struggles in his word, presence and perspective, God will reveal blessings in the blah.

BUT… regardless of how you find yourself feeling, don’t be so hard on YOU. Child of God, you are not condemned. His grace has you covered. It is sufficient for you… and for me.

Will you rest with me in the free gift of his unconditional grace?

Reflect:

Are you fighting discontentment and the guilt weighing on you as a result? Have you taken your struggle to God, and allowed his grace to lift you? 

Pray:

Lord, I want to be thankful and joyful with whatever you place before me, but the truth is, I’m not doing so well with that. Forgive me. Give me eyes to detect your blessings. And when I falter, refresh my soul with reminders of your boundless grace. I don’t deserve your perfect love, but thank you for offering it freely without fail, and without condition. In your gracious name, Amen.

Seek the Word:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

Have a blessed week!

Your friend, Keri Ann

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