Scribbles the Scribe

Fervent or Feeble?

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:56:26 GMT

Waiting on the Lord can be so incredibly draining.

I used to storm the gates of heaven with His words, promises and prayers. I spent hours seeking, knocking, and begging on behalf of another. It wasn’t my choice to make, but I interceded mightily for this beloved person to follow His will, not the world’s whims. In the end, He allowed free will to prevail.

Now I sit quietly at the gates, offering what feels like feeble prayers muttered from an uncertain, tired heart. Feeling like I gave my all and lost. Now I take one day at a time as only the truly broken can understand. Not bitter, but sad. Not shut down, but frail.

I used to storm the gates of heaven…

Now I sit quietly…

And in this place, I am still of use to God. Maybe more so in my weakness. When I meet another who is struggling, I can immediately empathize. I understand what it is to be on a different path than what you intended to be all along. I am useful to God, but in a different sphere now. Bloom where we are planted, right? It might not be convenient, or feel like success, but as long as I keep God first, I can trust in Him to care for it all, and for me.

But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.

My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

Psalm 26:11-12

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people,
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.

Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 28:7-9

Next steps

Seek Him – Decide on a way to give God top priority this week.

Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Trust Him – Eliminate an idol in your life.

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Wait on Him – Take up our cross daily in the little things in service to Him.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Choose a new story

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:57:54 GMT

Grief
Disappointment
Hurt

-OR-

Long suffering
Perseverance
Obedience

In the darkness, the anguish and the exhaustion, I have the opportunity to make a choice. Will I listen to the voice that is shouting through my pain that I am useless and have absolutely no value, or will I choose to hear the still, small voice saying that I am greatly, steadfastly loved regardless of circumstances?

I can choose NOT to let pain be the definition of my story any longer.

I can choose TO reach for the courage to believe that God has written a new story for my life.

He is The Father of Lights who brings me out of darkness into the light.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:16-17

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 4:6

…delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:17

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1 John 1:5

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8

Next Steps

Choose to have good support systems around us

Choose to be open to change

Choose truth (denial keeps us in the dark) and allow God to shine forth the truths we need in our lives

Choose to (re)evaluate how we handle pain and disappointment

When I Don't Understand

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:01:36 GMT

It can be hard to stay on the long road back from pain, trauma, or addiction. There are many, many times when we are tempted to give up, or give in.

Are you tired today? Tired of trying? Tired of hoping? Tired of striving to change bad habits? Tired of life’s daily challenges that seem to never end?

Our faith seems like a frayed rope during these times of testing and can feel very fragile. Often people let us down, and sometimes God seems silent. Yet again and again we should choose to believe that God is who He says He is, even when we don’t understand why we are going through our challenges. We might need to make that choice each and every day when we are struggling, especially when things don’t make sense.

Remember that obeying God is never wasted time or effort. When we can’t see immediate results, when hard times keep coming and things are painful, let me encourage you that you are not alone and that our obedience will one day be rewarded.

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Ephesians 6:7-8

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Maybe peace is not the absence of struggle… maybe peace is choosing to go through life knowing that His presence is going through every difficulty right beside us. Can peace exist when things are falling apart? Can we choose to believe in His goodness when it doesn’t make sense to do so? Is He truly El Elyon – (God) Most High – to me and am I allowing Him absolute Lordship in my life?

I recently heard that it is okay to worship with a wounded heart. This is a good thing because it’s pretty hard to get through life without being hurt at some point. If you are in recovery, it’s likely that it was pain that sent you running down a wrong path in the first place.

In the midst of pain and confusion, am I focusing on the problem or on the One who can solve it? There are times when we are called to live with the very thing we are praying to be delivered from. In these times we must be intentional about our relationship with our Creator.

My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:6-8

The word Abide (from the Greek word meno) means to remain, to endure, to continue.

Choose to abide in Him

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. John 15:9-10

Choose to let go of confusion and trust Him

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

“The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” Psalm 35:27b

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.

Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
Psalm 40:1-5

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Choose to believe in God’s steadfast love for me

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25:10

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.
1 John 3:1

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
Psalm 97:10-12

Next Steps

Remind yourself that it’s okay to be tired or confused.

Examine how you might be trying to escape pain, then talk or write about what you feel and come up with ways to replace bad habits with good ones.

Don’t worry about what you can’t control, focus on what God has done, and what he can do in our lives.

Be open to change and intentionally seek something to look forward to that is healthy for you and others.

Choose to look forward, not constantly dwelling in yesterday’s hurts.

In the Waiting - Stand Firm

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:00:43 GMT

When we are living in pain it can be challenging to keep believing that God still loves us, that he is still in control and that he cares about the hurt in our lives. Standing firm in our faith can become excruciatingly difficult.

I am not here to tell you that you should deny the heartache you are feeling. However, we need to be careful not to get stuck in any one stage of the healing process. It’s a marathon and each person needs to heal at their own pace, yet each day should see us either moving forward or holding steady – standing firm - where we are in our journey.

Walking with God requires, yet also develops, endurance and stamina. When we are reduced to focusing on just breathing and getting through the next moment, let me encourage you to cry out to Jesus and cling to him. In what we say as well as what we do, we need to move towards spiritual maturity, striving to let Him be our anchor in life especially when the days are difficult.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:8-10

What does “Standing Firm” look like?

As we just read in 1 Peter, we must resist the enemy. In order to do that, we need to know who God really is. Only through faith can we stay strong in the hard times. Even though it can be challenging, we should never allow ourselves to linger in doubt.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you… May our Lord Jesus Christ… encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2: 15-17

We should pray for strength and be aware of who we are spending time with and what they might be influencing us toward.

Long ago I had a neighbor who was in the military. He had a wife and 2 children at home. As one does when they are on active duty, he was deployed for several months and when he returned home his wife met him with the shocking news that she wanted a divorce. He was astounded and confused as things had been fine when he left. Eventually he learned that his wife had been spending a lot of time with a divorced woman who was encouraging her to leave him. Thankfully he chose to fight for his marriage and his wife decided to stay.

Who are we listening to today? Is there someone who has a lot of authority to speak into our lives? Is this a good thing?

Just as someone who is pulling themselves out of an addiction wouldn’t want to place themselves with others who are encouraging them to remain in their addiction, so when we are struggling, we need to surround ourselves with really good, healthy and supportive people.

Standing firm is also an invitation to rest in Him, and to shine our light by living out our trust in Him, especially in the face of trials, doubts, or opposition. Someone is likely watching how we respond to the difficulties we are facing today.

If you do not stand firm in your faith,
will not stand at all.

Isa 7:9

Next Steps

Choose a verse to claim as your own

Read about one aspect of Gods character

Consider surrounding yourself with healthy, supportive people

Ask God for help staying faithful in the hard times

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In the Waiting - Serve Gladly

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:02:41 GMT

If it’s a battle to get out of bed each morning, if you feel numb or disinterested in life, and if every decision you make feels like it took an act of war, let me share something with you.

This may sound too difficult at first but, just like learning to play an instrument, it will actually help you, given a little time. Serving – or volunteering – starts with very small steps. Just the fact that someone else is depending upon you for help… helps! It is challenging yet rewarding.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

I remember when I was so drained, so deep in depression that just getting in the car for a drive took all that I had. BUT, I also remember that it helped. Just a little bit, but when things are that dark, going from seeing everything as black to seeing things as dark gray is a welcome improvement. It’s similar with serving others… if you stick with it, you will find more purpose and accomplishment in your life. You will start to feel needed and appreciated. Persistence and determination may return to you as you gain new social connections with other volunteers.

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11

Please note that serving is not about us receiving attention. On the contrary, we are practicing trading selfishness for selfLESSness. Serving is also an act of worship and a way to honor our Lord. Ask him for the strength you need to move forward in serving him by serving others.

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah 31:25

My friend, we all go through seasons of struggle. If you are there now, let me remind you…

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Next Steps

Pray about serving - pause, reflect, listen

Identify areas of interest to you and look for opportunities around you

Start slowly - for example once a month or serve with a friend here and there

Consider having someone else drive you there which might lessen your stress while also adding some accountability

In the Waiting - Praise Him

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:03:13 GMT

Have you ever been on your face before God? I mean physically on the floor crying out to Him? Or in your mind doing the same, as you go through each minute of the day?

Praising God in adversity is challenging. Yet over and over again scripture tells us to reflect on all that He has done. The more time we spend thinking on His wonderous ways, the easier it will be to offer Him praise.

The Hebrew for Praise is “Yadah” which means “to stretch out the hand.” As if we are holding out our hands in reverence while also letting go of everything.

Worshiping God is about a relationship. The goal is to come into His presence in total surrender, acknowledging our lowly state and our need for Him in our lives. We should desire to see less of ourselves and ask to learn more about him.

The Hebrew word for Worship is “Shachah” meaning, “to prostrate, to bow down, to fall down or to stoop.”

Praise - Looking up – Admission

Worship - Bowing down - Submission

When we look up we see God in the vast, majestic galaxies.

The immensity of this galaxy is difficult to grasp. NASA suggests thinking of it this way:

“…find a grain of sand, hold it up to the night sky, and imagine that in it are thousands of galaxies we can see with the most powerful telescope we’ve ever constructed—and certainly countless more galaxies we cannot yet see.”

Does this make us feel insignificant? Perhaps, but remember that we are so loved and valued that he allowed his only son to die for you and for me.

When we look around we see God in the small, humble butterfly.

In contrast to space, butterfly wings are covered in thousands of tiny scales with an intricate level of complexity that many regard as evidence of intelligent design. Time, Growth, and Struggle. Cocooned in a season of waiting, eventually producing beauty.

If you are going through a tough time right now, let me remind you that our God is Powerful, Faithful, Compassionate, Righteous, and Merciful. He is our Savior, Provider, Creator, Shepherd, Healer and Father. He is Immanuel – God with us.

Just like the widow who gave everything she had, offering praise in our hardest days will carry great meaning to our Lord. (Mk 12:43-44 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”)

HE SEES, HE KNOWS, HE CARES.

Are you familiar with the scripture that reads “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”? Well just two verses prior to that (in chapter 147 of the book of Psalms) it begins with the words Praise the Lord! It continues by stating that this is “good” and “fitting”.

Psalm 150:2 tells us to praise him for what he has done, and for who he is. “

Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!”

Admission and submission; two very important elements of faith, even when it doesn’t make sense to us.

Next steps

If you are struggling to praise God amid adversity, this is what Psalm 40 tells us: vs 2-3 “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.” Ask him to give you a new song of praise to him today.

Remember a time when God showed up for you and praise him for it.

Submit an area of your life to God that you have been hiding from him or possibly trying to keep control of and you need to relinquish it to Him.

If you just can’t quite get to praise yet, find a song that praises God and play it for him.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Ps 150:6

Thankfulness in the Hard Times

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:37:00 GMT

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In the Waiting

Scribbles the Scribe — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:04:32 GMT

I’ll be honest; during the hard times, the really deep-dark-I-can-hardly-breathe times, it can be devastatingly difficult knowing that God could change things… he has all the power and knowledge and ability, and yet he chooses not to do so. My head knows that this must somehow work for my good, eventually, and that there will be purpose in it, but the little girl heart hidden inside is asking why my Heavenly Father is allowing such pain and doesn’t seem to be protecting me.

Then my heart grows faint as I wait and wait and wait some more. Is there something that you have been waiting on God to answer for so long that it almost doesn’t bear repeating? You just say “Hey, God? Well, you know. Any day now.”

Even though James 1:2-3 tells me to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

The verse that comes to MY mind is John 6:66-69: "After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

A bit more resignation on my part than “pure joy”. So I ask myself, what can I learn in the times of waiting?

Be Thankful. Did you know that God tells us to sacrifice thank offerings? When I am truly suffering, being thankful does feel like giving him a sacrifice. It takes everything I have to do that, and God knows it.

Ps 50:14-15 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

Praise Him. Praising him when all of life seems to be falling apart helps me keep my eyes on his long-term goals, on his plans, more than my current trials. To rise above my daily mess and find little blessings that I otherwise might have missed.

Ps 28:6-7 Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Ps 100:3-5 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Ps 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Serve Gladly. Finding an area to serve can help me get out of my daily routine, connect with others and feel useful, as well as get my mind off my personal struggles for a time.

Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

1 Sam 12:24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Stand Firm. Lord, to whom shall I go but You? I will admit that I am not counting my difficulties as pure joy yet, but I AM choosing to trust in the One True Shepherd who leads me by still waters and walks with me through the valley of the shadow of death.

Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Ps 62:5-6 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

Isa 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

Lord, please remind me to put some supports in place; to take each day as it comes, pray for strength, repeat your promises, attend church, listen to praise music, write out scripture, and surround myself with encouraging, honest people. And may you ultimately be glorified by my life, amen and amen.