Groan-Free
by Tina Yeager
(Philippians 2:14-16).
My groans echo through the vacant rooms of my old but new-to-us house. Projects glare from every corner. Most rooms shiver entirely naked of furniture and decor. Dust and grime irritate my swollen eyes. I shuffle into the garage to sneeze and cough through the fortress of boxes which cannot be unpacked. There’s no home for their contents yet.
I hug my middle, boxing my grumbles inside. I’m unsettled and whine to the Lord over my need to feel at home. To relax. To create. To fulfill His calling as a bearer of words.
Agitation stirs my gut, for I resent my discontent even more than the circumstances. Grungy complaints sour my mood and mind. My prayer shifts from fixing my situation to scouring my attitude.
As a vessel of divine words, my soul needs God’s cleansing. So along with the rubbish of this new-to-me house, I choose to throw out my grumbling and complaints. Stubborn as they are.
When overwhelm weighs upon my shoulders and tempts me to groan, I can lay my burdens before Jesus in thankfulness. Instead of discontented shuffling, I’ll invite the Lord to sit with me at the computer each day. I must prepare my heart as a comfortable dwelling place for the Spirit, so He can work through me.
Father, thank You for your patience with me. Help me remember that You are my dwelling place and I was redeemed to be a dwelling place for your Spirit. Lead me to make my home in You and serve from a thankful heart centered in Your Kingdom’s eternal home. Amen.
Award-winning author, speaker, and licensed therapist, Tina’s passion is to offer encouragement through spoken and written messages. Beautiful Warrior, releasing 2019, champions women’s significance. She enjoys writing nonfiction and speculative fiction while coaching online clients. Tina mentors five chapters in four states with Word Weavers International. Come visit her for a virtual cup of java at tinayeager.com.