I am soooo cold today! I canāt get warmed up! I seriously went to work like this.
Aw, cute! It is definitely freezing outside! āļøāļøāļø
Ummmā¦ Youāre adorable, Anna! Ā Bundling up is a must in these midwest winters!! Ā Unless you just stay inside! #thejoysofthemidwest
I knowā¦ I feel like I could just stay inside and hibernate for a few weeks. š“
Just put a stack of wood outside the backdoor, light a fire, and hunker down!š„ Or I guess you could move to to L.A. or somethingā¦
Ha! Yes! That actually just reminded me of something. When I lived in sunny Florida, I didnāt always feel nice and warm all of the time.āļø Maybe in temperature but not always in mental space, ya know?
I doā¦ Sometimes I donāt feel warm and fuzzy emotionally, either!Ā
Right, I think we can all think of a time when it was perfect weather outside but inside we werenāt feeling so balmyā¦
So how do we stay warm — whether itās cold outside, or a little ācoldā in our hearts?
I think we have to warm ourselves by drawing close to Godās warmth first. It reminds me of a campfire on a cold night. At first, Iām just freezing and all I can think of is to put my hands up to the fire until they arenāt numb anymore! š„
So true. You donāt know how many times Iāve been tempted to just jump in the fire to get warm! š
Spiritually speaking, maybe thatās just what God wants us to do. š¤
Maybe so…all too often I seem to feel in the dark as a mom, or a friend, or a wife, and I need to remember to move toward the light and warmth rather than away.
Me too, Laura. Sometimes I just start to withdraw inside and that can be a lonely and cold place to be. Iām still functioning, but not with the warmth that I normally have. I think thatās just because Iām feeling kind of defeated.
Iāve been there too…like Iāve forgotten to draw close to Godās warmth, and without Him keeping the fire burning inside of me, it can get snuffed out.
When I stay in that chilly place long enough, I can start to forget what it feels like to rely on God, and I find myself consumed with doubts or relying only on myself. But the warmth of Godās fire relights the fire in me.š„
You are so right, Laura. Godās fire brings light to our darkness. Why is it so easy to forget sometimes? All I have to do is reach out, and He meets me in the middle of my coldness.
So maybe this winter, letās stay tuned into when weāre feeling cold–emotionally or spiritually. And letās invite Godās warmth into those places and let Him bring renewed light and warmth even when we have nothing left inside ourselves. Ā #warmthinthewinter
Soaking in the Truth
Scripture to encourage you:
- āBut as for me, it is good to be near God.ā (Psalm 73:28a)
- āWhen you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.ā (Isaiah 43:2b)
- “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8a)
Music to inspire you:
Readings and Resources to come alongside of you:
- āStay in the Shadeā by Marybeth Whalen with Proverbs 31
Related Posts on Texting The Truth:
Living Out the Truth
Ideas to try:
- Start by thinking about the areas of your life that feel ācoldā or āin the dark.ā What are those areas/things/relationships?
- How have you reached out to God in these places? How has He met you?
- Reach out to a friend. Sometimes God uses us to bring His warmth to others and I am sure there is a friend who wants to do that for you when you’re feeling cold.
- Stay tuned, because this is just the beginning of a season on finding warmth in the winter! Weāll talk much more about what this looks like in our lives. #warmthinthewinter
Treasured Products we love:
- Find a journal that you loveĀ and listen to the music we listed above. Cozy up next to a fire and write out your heart to God.
{These suggestions are ideas from novice moms. Sometimes our life situations need more. In that case, seeking out professional help is the right call.}