Still My Story, Still My Song

It’s been one of those days, after one of those weeks, after one of those months. The kind you literally only get through by the grace and strength of God.

One daughter grumpy, the other not listening to a word I said. My arm burning from carrying my overtired eight-month-old son around for the past two and a half hours since he screamed almost to the point of choking every time I put him down.

Trying to get dinner cooked (one-handed), the table set, the house back to tidy enough that we weren’t tripping over everything. My ankle was throbbing because some mosquito had had the audacity to bite me on it – three times. And it was raining. Not that nice, cool, ‘go find a good book and snuggle up’ rain but rather the ‘just enough to make the air so thick with humidity that we all drown in it’ rain.

As I often do in such situations, I turned on some music to distract myself from the feeling that my world and I were completely falling apart. I chose an album of hymns because, to be honest, much as I love them, I was in desperate need of the godly truths they contained.

I let out a wry laugh when it got to the chorus of Blessed Assurance.

This is my story, this is my song.

Praising my Saviour all the day long.

I couldn’t help but think of the last blog post I’d written with that title, all about my grand testimony of God’s love in my life. Ah, those were the days, I thought to myself wryly as I stood there aching, frustrated and sweaty with a wriggly overtired baby on my hip. Out there, telling the world about God, encouraging teens, impacting lives.

But just as quickly, another thought challenged that one – that this, right here, was as much my story as that one. And just as powerful.

I was an aching mess. But I was an aching mess praising God. Temperamental kids, one-handed dinner prep, messy house, my tired body fighting depression to stay afloat – this is my current story.

And it’s a story of God’s faithfulness.

I couldn’t get through these days without God, and I’ll tell that to anyone and everyone who’ll listen. I’m under no illusions that I can do life without him. He is my rock, my reason, my joy and my hope.

Messy as my days feel at times, God is using my story – even in the mess – to show others his heart. He is using my testimony to encourage others in ways I’ll probably never know.

Don’t be afraid of mess. And don’t for one second think that God can’t use it or that God can’t use you. No matter what your story looks like today, God can and will use it to bring him glory.

Mess is my story but this is my song:

Praising my Saviour all the day long.

So ... what's your story? :)