Because it can feel like that: When you are giving everything you have, you can only take so much. What grabs a hold of a woman and makes her fear a day and herself and letting anyone get close? What makes joy elusive and cynicism easy and stress normal and why do women choke down pills and food and shame instead of choking out what’s wrong? What makes us scared to death to be real… so we just live dead? They say anger makes us anxious, that anger makes us depressed, all this rage that we keep swallowing that makes us weak and sick. This anger that we keep downing that gives us a soul ache. Somehow there has to be this opening up, this expressing, this releasing and letting go. Somehow we have to be real and unafraid and live because there’s only this once here. Thing is, life’s got a label: Straight venting can cause steam burns. Anger can kill you if you bury it — or if you don’t give it to God. Venting hurts your-self, Biblical lamenting heals your-soul — bravely expressing pain while unwavering in the unrelenting goodness of God. When you are giving everything you have and you can only take so much — Christ kneels close with arms stretched open wide: “Let Me take the rest.” Praying continually, this thanks in all things, this is what fulfills the commanding ache for joy always. Giving thanks in all things is how to pray continually — and this is the way to get to the joy. This is the way to do God’s will for your right now. Thanks to God is what that calms the wild heart. Anger makes us sick and weak and bound and the therapy is in the thanks. Thanks therapy is God’s prescription for joy. This isn’t trite — this is treatment. Breathing oxygen to live, it can seem ridiculously simple too. Jesus always leaves the option open for you to choose: “Do you want to be well?” Sometimes we hurt so bad, we can’t even think to say yes, we forget how to mouth thanks. And in all the leaves, all in the mess, it’s right here: Everything that falls, turned back to thanks, unlikely therapy turning a fallen world. ~ Ann Voskamp
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 14:35:21 +0000
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