Tuesday, January 25, 2011

cover me

Exodus 33:21-23 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
Redeem her from the guilt. This is my prayer today. It seems as if so many of the women I talk with, and so many of the stories I hear have one thread in common, guilt. It almost seems as if the more beautiful the soul, and the more caring the heart, the more prone to guilt she is. Guilt for not being able to fix things, guilt for caring to much, guilt for continuing the carry the pain that she doesn’t know how to drop, guilt for coping in the ways that she did, guilt for something that was never her fault, ever, but yet she continues to carry it, guilt.
God, I ask you today, to redeem her from the guilt. Place people in her lives that let her know you care. Place a shelter around her that lets her know she’s safe. Settle the part of her soul that longs to fix everything, and give her peace and rest in the belief that your timing is perfect.
Free her from the guilt, because she is invited to stand on the rock. The one and only rock, Jesus. And not only do you invite her to stand on the rock, but you have made a cleft just for her inside the rock. She can cozy up in the cleft of Jesus, and you will cover her with your glorious hand. And after you pass by, and make all things new, it will be safe for her to come out and see the works of your hands. You provide the one and only shelter from the storm that never fails. Redeem her from the guilt God, help her find the cleft, and comfort her while you make all things new.

4 comments:

  1. I happen to believe this is the best of your writing yet. True, beautiful, unique, wonderful. You have given a gift today, Steph.

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  2. Stephanie, so very lovely. I agree with Jen - one of your best. I used to be so weighed down by guilt - I should be doing more for____, I should be doing this for ____ and then I realized how very self-absorbed this was. Who am I to think I have to be the one to fix everyone? I'm not qualified and there's only one who is...So if I have handled something in a Biblical manner and acted in love, then I release them to God's hands - the only one qualified to take care of them.

    Thanks for this today, Stephanie!

    Natalie at Mommy on Fire
    http://www.mommyonfire.com

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  3. I agree with you, there is so much guilt. I wonder if it also has to do with the need for approval and/or acceptance. Whatever the cause, thank goodness we have our Lord.

    This was beautiful, thank you for sharing!

    Erin

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  4. I love that - He covers our guilt with his beautiful hands. Amazing.

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