When You’re Tired of Being a Sighing Woman
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – 4:13 ESV
Early, morning light fills the room pulling me wake.
I lie in bed clutching at the stillness hoping to hold the day off a little while longer.
But it’s no use, my mind is already off to the races.
So, with slippered feet and drowsy eyes, I find my way to the kitchen to make lunches for my people.
I know. Some would say I rob my kids of independence and responsibility by making their lunches. Honestly, I’d rather they learn these virtues as I teach them to advocate for their grades, or their needs, or for the needs of others. I guess I refuse to worry about them failing at life over a few slices of bread and some lunchmeat.
Okay, coming down from my soapbox now…
Anyways, with lunches made and everyone out the door. I turn around in the silence and ask God a question. Actually several:
Lord, how can today be different? How can today BE different in all the ways that matter? And what really matters, Lord? And can I be content and full and praising regardless of how this day ends? Because the truth is, God, I’m tired of being a sighing woman.
I’m tired of sighing over mundane chores, and frustrating conversations, and demanding situations.
I’m tired of sighing over things that don’t go my way, or take too long, or change on a whim.
Sigh…
There I go again.
So, how do you and I put a lid on our sighing and live our days with a more positive mindset?
In Philippians 4:13, the Apostle Paul tells us he (and we) can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. This is a popular verse that is often taken out of context. See, in earlier verses, Paul tells us he learned – in whatever situation, to be content (v. 11). He learned how to be brought low, and how to abound (v. 12). As if they were an essential skill or an art form to be mastered.
I think they are.
When we learn the fine art of success AND suffering, we’ll have little need for our sighing ways.
When we learn “I can do all things” means more than just the happy, successful, triumphant things, but also means “I can do the hard, boring, confusing, and painful things” too, we’ll better understand what Paul was saying.
Like Paul, we must see all aspects of our life through the lens of Christ’s love, providence and potency. The good, the bad, the plenty, and the scarce. And when we do, God grants the necessary strength.
He strengthens our faith, our resolve, our hope, and our love for Him and others.
He strengthens our dependence and willingness to let Him take charge of our sighing moments and make them holier and more Christ-like.
And above all, He strengthens us to surrender.
Surrender to His sufficiency and power, easier and quicker than we did yesterday.
You know…with all this God-given strength flying around, who has time to be a sighing woman?