I’ve been absent from the blogging sphere for several weeks now because, well, life happened.

In my absence, I was notified that Bind My Wandering Heart has nominated me for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I was floored!…and humbled.
I write because it’s cathartic for me and I don’t really expect anyone to read it, so it always catches me a little off guard when I realize someone does. If God has used my ramblings to encourage any of you, then I am very thankful. I just want my life to count for and to point others to Jesus.

So much has happened over these past few weeks and I feel as though my mind and body are having a hard time processing and catching up to what must be done.

Quick Recap:
1) My hubs and I took our church kids (and those from a sister church) to Camp last month. What an amazing time we had! We had a blast playing games and activities…but each day, we heard a word straight from God to us. His presence was so evident in each service and hearts and lives were eternally affected.
2) We had Vacation Bible School at our church earlier this month. We had several new faces and families from the community who came almost every night. We had a wonderful week and are continuing to pray that the Seed that was sown will bring forth fruit in time.
3) We’re moving! My hubs and I were presented with an opportunity to move closer to town, prayed about it, and felt this was the right move for us. Our new place will only be a mile and a half from the church, and we are quite excited about that prospect! This new place needed some work, so we’re in the process of ripping up carpet, laying new floors, painting…the whole nine yards, while trying to sort through 6 years worth of collected stuff to see what needs to stay and what can go. Moving is a bear.
4) I was informed yesterday that I got a job we had been praying for! I will be a kindergarten teacher’s assistant for this school year! I’ve been a substitute for several years and have worked in after school off and on, but I haven’t been consistently in a classroom since I taught PreK eight years ago, and I am SO excited and thankful this worked out! I’m looking forward to a wonderful school year with precious little ones! 💛

As you can see, I’ve been on overload lately (and September will probably be worse).
My hubs can handle stress much better than I can. He takes stuff one thing at a time, while I see the big picture and try to deal with it all at once. I try to compartmentalize, but it often doesn’t work well for me.
I sometimes become so overwhelmed, I feel like I’m drowning and there’s no possible way the things that must get done, will get done.

I may be alone in this, but I doubt it.
When things get super crazy, whether it’s actual *things* piling up or spiritual/mental/emotional things piling up, the most helpful thing I can do is turn to the Psalms.
I can relate with David.
He knew what it meant to be overwhelmed…and where he would find help.

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” ~Psalms 61:2

He also knew that even when he couldn’t feel the bottom or know what to do, there was One who did.

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.” ~Psalms 142:3a

David recognized that there was a place of shelter and comfort when things were going crazy…a hiding place. He refers to God as his ‘hiding place’ a few times throughout the book of Psalms.
Things may be overwhelming right now (if not now, just hang on!) and it may seem like there’s no where to hide from responsibilities or trouble or burdens or whatever it may be, but if you are a child of God, you have a Hiding Place.

He may not change the circumstances, but He will give you a reprieve.
He’ll give you a place to rest and give you His strength so that you can tackle it again.
I’m glad He offers peace and protection when we need it most and instruction and guidance to face a new day.

“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” ~Psalms 32:7, 8

I’m thankful tonight for my Hiding Place.