Resources to Get You Through
I have been living a life of survival for the last nearly 2 years. I don’t think I remember how to thrive, only how to survive. My life has been defined by one of my favorite quotes by Elisabeth Elliot . . .
“Sometimes life is so hard you can only do the next thing. Whatever that is just do the next thing. God will meet you there”
Where Words Fail, Music Speaks
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
I’ve shared some playlists in other posts for you to enjoy over the last several months. I’ll add a few YouTube links below of the songs that are getting me through. But first, I just want to talk about how music can say what your voice often cannot. When I received the disappointing news last weekend that my mom’s cancer was back, I spent my drive back to my home-away-from-home screaming to God “It’s TOO MUCH!!!” First I screamed those words, then I cried those words, then I whimpered them. Then, silence. Then the cycle would start all over again. The phrase it’s too much was all I could get out. No fancy, frilly prayers. No theological prowess. No words I’ve learned in my systematic theology books. Just raw, honest emotion to the One who gave me these emotions.
I was emotionally and physically spent after that. I got to my temporary home and my dear friends that are hosting me fed me, sat in silence with me, listened when I wanted to talk, then put me to bed and told me to sleep in the next morning or else. I love these people!
After a good night’s rest, I woke up less emotionally raw. This time, my drive consisted of praise music to drive away the doubts and fears. I put on a random Spotify playlist themed around one of my favorite Christian artists, CeCe Winans which included similar artists in the rotation. I’m linking the first two songs that played below in the order they came. God knew just what I needed to hear.
I felt these songs deep down in my soul that morning—all the way to my toes! The list kept getting better after those two! It was like God tailored a playlist just for me to soothe my weary bones and bind up my broken soul. He’s kind like that.
Book of Common Prayer
Another invaluable resource that has ministered deeply to both of us during these last two years is the ACNA 2019 Book of Common Prayer. I’ll save all the reasons we are now happy Anglicans for some other post. Prayer Books are not a new concept. They have been used by saints for centuries to give words when words fail and to remind us of our common, communal faith. Have you ever wanted to pray about something but couldn’t find the words? Prayer books put meaty words to scattered feelings and thoughts. They help you focus your prayers on God rather than yourself and they bring substance to your prayer life. My preferred edition of the Book of Common Prayer is the 2019 version published by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), but there are many earlier editions that others enjoy from 1549, 1662, 1928, and 1979.
Here are some links to the 2019 BCP:
The Daily Office Prayer Liturgies
App
Pdf version
Hard copy for purchase
Reading Fiction
Awhile back, I dedicated a whole post to my love of reading fantasy, but it bears repeating. Reading fiction when you’re going through hardships is so helpful! For a few minutes (or several minutes!) a day you can escape the pressures of your difficulties and enter an entirely different world—a world that you know isn’t real and you can exit any time you wish. Fiction is a wonderful gift to our human existence and I’m so thankful for creative minds who share their imaginations with us. I prefer fantasy because it’s the ultimate escape from reality. Fantastical beings and whimsical characters draw me into their worlds and out of my very hard one. If the author is skilled enough, you become a participant in the story and not merely a consumer or spectator. That’s when the magic really happens. I encourage you to find a genre you enjoy reading that helps you to escape, even if just for a few minutes. Audiobooks count, too! Sometimes life is too crazy to carve out time to sit and read. Audiobooks go with you everywhere.
I could share a really long list of books I’ve read over the last two years, but I’ll just keep the list to my top two book series suggestions. If you’d like more insight into what I’ve read, I’m on GoodReads. I’m considering switching to StoryGraph, though. I just need to play around with it a little bit.
Recommendations:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - this is the first book in a 5-part unfinished series.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber - this is the first book in a complete trilogy
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber - this is the first book in a complete trilogy that has crossover characters from the Caraval series
I’m sure there are better, more holy books to read that would deepen my faith. I read those often as well. But when you’re in the thick of all the hard things, sometimes your brain is too foggy to think deeply about theology. Lately, as far as theological pursuits go, it’s just me and my Bible with a black pen and occasionally a journal. The deep theology days will come around again when life is less demanding and I’m okay with that.
