"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?"
Psalms 8:3-4 NRSV
Have you ever just laid down on the ground and stared up at the night sky for a while? It is absolutely breathtaking, especially when there’s not a lot of city lights and light pollution to take away from it all. I don’t do this often, but about a year ago I had hit a VERY low point with my mental health. So, after I finished taking the trash can to the road for the next day’s pick up, I just laid down on the driveway. As I did, my anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed seemed to diminish when compared to the vastness of the night sky. I was praying to the Father and asking Him to help me want to keep going. I knew I wasn’t strong enough to carry on another day on my own. Slowly, the tears began to slip from the sides of my eyes. After about 10 minutes, my oldest son came out to check on me. I heard the words, "Hey, dad. You good?" I didn’t want to spew out all of my junk on him, so I replied, "Yea, buddy. I’m just chillin’ for a minute." I figured he’d just go back inside, but he came over next to me and laid down close to me. I doubt he knew the battle I was fighting in my heart and in my head. Another 10 minutes passed and we hadn’t said a word. He didn’t have to say anything. Just him being there was the "grounding" I needed between the night sky and the condition of my mental condition.
You see, as I looked at the stars in the heavens, my mind kept going back to the creation narrative where God breathed out the stars. He is so amazing and powerful and awesome. Why would he stop what He was doing to check on me? I mean, in the grand scheme of things, I didn’t feel I was important. But when my son came to check on me and he just joined in the silence, I knew I was not forgotten. I was not alone. Our heavenly Father is ALWAYS there for us. You may not hear him, but he is with you. If you are having difficult days or going through a season where you would rather not be on this earth, please know that you are not alone.
If you ever need prayer, you can reply to this email or catch the Prayer Requests – Prodigals group on Facebook. You are loved and prayed for, my friends.
Photo Credit: Andy Vu via Pexels
~PRODIGAL MIKE
Prodigal Thinker 