Held by His Faithfulness - Your Nightly Prayer - March 13th

Held by His Faithfulness
Your Nightly Prayer
by Chelsey DeMatteis

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” Lamentations 3:22

SOMETHING TO PONDER

It was early in the morning when I made my way to the couch to spend some time with the Lord. Some days my time is silent before anyone else is awake in the house; other times, the morning rush is underway as I’m making my way through the Scriptures. Regardless of which one it is, the Lord is faithful to meet me there. This particular morning, my response to a question struck me. It was something along the lines of, “When have you experienced the Lord carrying you?”

My answer came quickly and was very specific. It was the two years I’d experienced debilitating anxiety. I was taken aback when I realized those two dark valleys, once in 2012 and again in 2024, were exactly 12 years apart. It felt like there was more to the story, and there was. The amount of life that has happened between those twelve years has changed me. I became a business owner, a wife, a mother, a stay-at-home mom, a speaker, an author, and a PTO mom. That really changes and shapes a person, even with Jesus at the center of it all.

I had hit a place where I felt exhausted and worn down. Honestly, even the book of the Bible I was studying felt like it was wearing me down - yes, that is even a feeling Christian authors experience. Slowly, and surely, the dominoes went down, and the anxiety surfaced. It felt like it hit all at once, but looking back, it had been building and building. Then, the “final straw” occurred, and the valley seemed to swallow me whole.

When I think of the faithfulness of God, maybe you’re like me, I think first of the valleys He walked me through. It’s where His mercy and grace intersect what feels most messy and most unworthy of His attention. Yet, He shows up anyway. Over and over and over again. With a heart that is willing and wanting to walk alongside me. His faithfulness is the greatest companion of my weakness, and your weakness, too.

Weakness is a word that makes most of us want to squirm. It’s typically a term we use when we’ve fallen short, delayed our obedience, are wrestling with something too big for our humanness to process, or found ourselves drifting away from the One who knows us best. However, throughout the Bible, we see that His power is made perfect in our weakness. And when we have a heart humble enough to approach the throne of grace, He will meet us there. Maybe with correction, but I think it’s also combined with great delight that we find ourselves at His feet.

A favorite story of mine, which we find in the Scriptures, is one I relate to when I think of those seasons I walked through: the debilitating anxiety the men on the boat felt when Jesus was asleep during the storm. Their weakness and anxiety seemed to be completely overlooked by God, and who wouldn’t blame them for feeling that way?

But when we peel back the layers, we see the truth - the Lord had not left them; He had not forsaken them. He was literally with them and was ready to act on their behalf when they called upon Him. They said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” and He responded with an immediate act of His power within their weakness. “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm.”

You see, the storms of this life, the faltering, the mishaps, and the areas we struggle with most are all the places where the Lord will pour out His power when we allow Him in. When we let down the pride and walls we’ve built up around our hearts. God moves. He moves with conviction and compassion. His grace and mercy drench us; not a drop of it is withheld.

Trust God to pour out His mercy and meet you with His faithfulness.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
Thank you for your faithfulness and new mercies. I praise you for meeting me in the valleys of life. The valleys that I’ve caused and the valleys that I’ve fallen into because of circumstances around me. You continue to meet me there with arms wide open to embrace my heart and fill me with your love. Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Keep my heart humble and willing. Make me your faithful vessel. In Jesus’ name, 
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. God’s Mercy in the Valley
Think about a difficult season when you felt overwhelmed or worn down. How did God sustain you in ways you may not have recognized at the time? His steadfast love never ceases, even when your strength does.

2. Power Made Perfect in Weakness
Where do you currently feel weak or anxious? Instead of hiding that place, bring it honestly before the Lord and ask Him to display His strength there.

3. Christ in the Storm
Like the disciples in the boat, have you ever wondered if God sees your struggle? Remember that Jesus was present with them before He calmed the storm. Rest in the truth that He is with you now, even before circumstances change.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Christian Fregnan

Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.

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