Checking In

Guest post by Shea Clarke

Some days, no matter how hard I try to prevent it, the world manages to get in and completely cloud over my sunshine. Just when I think I have a handle on it all, evil rears its head to show me that I am not as safe and comfortable as I thought.

For days or even weeks I can go along with everything falling neatly into place, basking in the sunshine and feeling the warmth and happiness it holds. In that moment, when I am feeling carefree and without worry that evil attacks and falls down on me like a heavy hailstorm.

I recently had one of those days. My whole world shook and trembled like a 7.4 earthquake. In all honesty, I was close to surrendering and allowing the darkness to swallow me up and just be done with it. Then I realized something. 

I had forgotten that the Lord was there.

I believe that many times when we believe we are on top of the world and everything is sunshine, we forget to acknowledge God.  Sure, when we are sad, scared, lonely, desperate we turn to the Lord and pray. We bargain, ask for favors, repent. But unless we are in dire straits we get too busy to pray and worship in the everyday.

I am guilty. And this time evil bit me in the behind and almost shattered everything. I turned to my sisters in Christ and ask for them to intercede on my behalf in prayer. I also got down on my knees and asked the Lord for forgiveness and for Him to please take back the control I had so selfishly pulled into my own hands. 

That is when I felt a sense of peace wash over me.The dizziness, nausea and panic from stress were lifted.  While I did have to endure the consequences, I knew without a doubt it would all work out and be just fine.

Isn’t it sad that we must sink to despair to realize that the help and answers we need were always there all along? 

I have vowed to not allow that to happen again. I have vowed to make the Lord the front burner of all things—the perfect and good as well as the bad. This declaration has a purpose: to hold me accountable. We may be well into March, but I don’t think it’s too late to make a New Year’s Resolution.  

Lord Father, I am so sorry that I have many times neglected to thank you for everything in my life. To praise and rejoice in you for the good things as well as run and seek comfort in you during the bad times.  Never again will I allow myself to fail to check in and just say, “Hey, thanks, Father. I appreciate this.”

Have you checked in with the Lord lately just to say “Thanks”?

Shea Clarke was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and after a 10-year detour in Boston now lives in Aiken, South Carolina. Having left behind a life that had played out like a bad Lifetime movie filled with addiction, abuse, and depression, Shea has now been happily married for the past six years to her very own Prince George. She jokes that he was worth the wait after sorting through a great number of toads. Shea is Mom to Kayla (26)  and Marygrace (16)–her princesses here on earth–as well as Olivia (b/d 6-23-07)  and Alessia (born still 11-13-08)–her Angel Babies in Heaven. She is also Grandma to perfect little Lorelei, who doesn’t allow Autism to get in her way. A dedicated canine rescuer, Shea highly esteems all of God’s creatures and loves bringing hope to the hurting.

Read more encouraging stories from brave-hearted women here. Be sure to grab your free copy of inspirational quotes and writing prompts while you’re there. (Look over on the right hand side!)

4 thoughts on “Checking In

  1. Thanks Jo Ann…I am such a control freak that I have a really hard time letting go and letting God. I have been so used to taking care of myself for so long that it’s been really tough to loosen the reins and say “OK Lord, take over, you have full control”… But, I am trying hard to learn to live on faith, and I am truly a work in progress….and man does He ever have his work cut out for Him in me. LOL

  2. Thank you Kate. I just feel really bad that it took something really harsh to make me so, “whoa, I totally forgot about the Lord here.” It was really humbling.

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