A couple of years ago, Terry and I were in the middle of dealing with some yucky evil. We only let a few, trusted people in on what we were facing, knowing they would just cover us in prayer as we sought to do the right thing.
One afternoon, my precious friend Betsy texted me and said, “Listen to this song. Right now.” I know I have shared this before, but Terry and I were up to our elbows in cleaning and rebuilding our house after Hurricane Irma. Something in her text made me think, “Okay. I’ll give it a listen. Right now.” The song is, “Defender,” by Francesca Battistelli, Steffany Gretzinger, and Rita Springer.
This song is on Terry’s and my favorite worship playlist. (It’s also on my Aimee’s Favorite playlist. You know the one … the one I made for my “favorites” thinking I would have about 25 to 30 songs, only it’s now up to 303 songs. I probably need an intervention, but we will save it for another day).
When I listened to this song the first time when Betsy sent it to me, I immediately went to purchase it. This song carried me for months.
“When I thought I lost me, You knew where I left me. You reintroduced me to Your love. You picked up all my pieces, put me back together. You are the defender of my heart.”
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Terry and I were guilty by association, perhaps, when we were dealing with the fallout from some evil done, but we did not do anything to “deserve” this evil. I had such a difficult time, and still do, understanding why evil people do evil things. I read Romans 12:12 one morning and wrote it on a piece of paper. Although I had memorized it long ago, I needed the visual reminder. As we were fighting a spiritual battle with the enemy, I was certainly not joyful in hope. I was not patient in affliction. But I will say, I was faithful in prayer. But this is why I wrote it down, so I would look at it every single day, and remind myself, “God’s got this, Aimee. Be joyful in hope. Be patient in affliction. Be faithful in prayer.”
It can be so hard to be joyful in hope when you and I could not possibly understand why people do such evil, horrible things. But we must be joyful in hope. Patient in affliction? Nope. I would not put myself in the column of, “patient in affliction.” More like, “antsy and anxious in affliction.” This scripture reminded me over and over where I needed to put my trust and hope and where to source my peace.
Jesus.
This past Christmas, Michala had this ornament made for Terry and me. I keep it with me as a daily reminder, to this day. As the song says, “When I thought I lost me, You knew where I left me. You reintroduced me to Your love. You picked up all my pieces, put me back together. You are the defender of my heart.”
I do not know what heartache or angst you are currently feeling, but I know if you think you lost yourself, Papa knows where you left you. Let Him reintroduce you to His love. He will pick up all your pieces and put you back together. He is the defender of your heart.
Through fear and victory, let’s be people who will “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
You are loved more than you will ever know. Loved enough for Jesus to die for you, and God is the defender of your heart. This is more than enough for us to be able to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.
If you need to write it out in order to calm your fears and anxiety, do so. Papa will pick up all your pieces and remind you of His love.