Writings of a Beholder 🌿
a weekly letter for those longing to slow down, seek still moments, and behold God’s presence with them in the everyday.
Weekly writings of a beholder 🌿
Beholding God in the Midst of Fear
At about 5 am this morning, I woke to flashes of lightning and the sound of rolling thunder. Actually, it wasn’t the storm that woke me, it was my sweet little dog, Hattie.
She’s been sleeping at the end of our bed lately, tucking herself inside her blanket right next to our feet.
Most nights, she stays put. But last night, she snuggled her way up between my husband, Max, and I and started shaking in fear in response to the storm. She despises storms or any loud noises at all for that matter.
Max and I both instinctively reached for her, petting her tiny head and body to try and bring some sense of comfort.
After about 10 minutes of doing this, we finally realized that no amount of petting or reassurance from us was going to take her fear away. Eventually, we rolled over and decided to let her work through her fear on her own.
After a few minutes, she settled down enough to curl up between us, and soon the three of us were fast asleep again. I think what Hattie needed more than anything was just our presence. She just wanted to be close to us, feeling the warmth of having us near.
Now, a few hours later, as I sit on my couch with my tea, writing this letter to you, I look out the window to gaze at cotton candy-colored skies; lovely hues of pink, blue, and a bit of peach cast a morning glow over everything they touch.
The storm always ends, and almost always, there’s beauty waiting to behold on the other side of it.
My Hattie girl lays curled up next to me on the couch, last night’s storm long forgotten.
I can’t help but think of the Holy Spirit and how He draws near to us in times of fear; in those times when storms rage on and we shake with terror struggling to believe that it will end.
Will it ever end?
Could there really be beauty waiting on the other side of all of this pain and fear and mess?
But just like Hattie found comfort in Max and I’s presence being near, we too can find peace in the knowledge that we are never alone. Even when the storm rages on, and the fear remains, He’s there.
He never leaves. He never stops loving you. He never stops providing for you. He never ceases to be the Almighty God who goes before you, behind you, and sits beside you.
Even when you can’t see the end, or you’re not feeling strong enough to believe in the beauty that’s waiting for you on the other side, He’s with you.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.” (Psalm 23:6, NIV)
And maybe that’s the silver lining in the midst of the storm that you cling to today; the beauty that you can believe in. That whatever fear you’re facing, mess you’re mopping up, or hurt that your harboring, you can simply sit with Love today.
Because Love and Goodness follow you, friend, all the days of your life. They pursue you, hunt you down until you’re filled back up again.
If you’re facing down a fear today, my friend, I want to invite you to sit in Psalm 23. It’s a short Psalm, only 6 verses in length, but it is packed full of truths about Who God is and who you are in Him.
And sometimes, in the fear, what we really need is the truth poured out in Love; the truth that Love pours out onto us, no matter what.
So take the next few moments, if you have the time, to read slowly and gently the words of Psalm 23, and may these words be your reminder today that God never stops drawing near.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (NIV)
xo,
celia
A breath prayer for your weekend
breathe in:
Your goodness and love.
breathe out:
Follow me all the days of my life.
*if you’d like to learn more about the practice of breath prayer, check out this blog post I wrote titled, How to Use Breath Prayer.
Resources & fun things to pick up
This week on the blog, I shared about a season of waiting that I experienced earlier this summer, and how I leaned into God through the closing of one door and the opening of another. Perhaps you’ll find encouragement in my story if you find yourself in a season of waiting and uncertainty: Altars & Open Doors: Learning to Behold God in the Waiting 🚪
I really enjoyed this article by writer and author, Molly Wilcox, about praying Scripture over your God-sized dreams. She also has a new book out that you can purchase over on Amazon called How Much More: Finding Fulfillment in a Generous God.
My friend and fellow writer, Kari Bartkus, is opening up enrollment for a course called Journal Gently which is an 8-week program designed to help you use writing as a way to process hurt, grief, and trauma with God. I’m finishing up week 8 of the course myself, and I can’t tell you how much I recommend it to any and all! It begins this coming Monday, October 3rd, so sign up while you still can!
Grab some helpful, beholding resources over on my Etsy shop, The Beholding Co. Available right now are some breath prayer cards, a spiral-bound journal, and a Lectio Divina Bible bookmark.
Grab a copy of my Bible study, You Are Beloved: a 21-day study on how to root your identity in the love of God, over on Amazon.
An invitation to pause & reflect
A regular practice of reflection helps us recognize what’s going on beneath the surface of our souls so that we can name it in the Lord’s presence. Because as we learn to name what we feel, what we need, and what we long for, we’re also learning to discern the Spirit’s sweet, gentle voice within our hearts and lives.
Take a few moments today or this weekend to journal or contemplate with the Holy Spirit the following question:
In what ways can you draw near to God today? Is it through journaling, praying, going for a walk, or staring at a sunrise? Write down three ways you can draw near, and then choose to do one of them today.
xo,
celia