Dear friend,

Have you ever come across a song that you just can't stop listening to? Well, I did this week. It's called "Let Nothing Disturb You" by Paul Zach.

When it came on, I was driving home from church. My phone connected to my car and played the next thing by the musical artist that I had been listening to and this song popped up. It immediately caught my attention. It felt like a deep breath, a lullaby, and I had to start it over again.

I think one day this week I listened to it at least 5 times back to back. And now it makes me wonder... what about this song captivated me so much?

How often life is disturbing. How many times we go about our day carrying such a heavy burden in our heart..... and we feel alone and forgotten, even by the Lord sometimes.

A few years ago my Dad (who struggles with occasional bouts of chronic serious health issues), was sick again and in the hospital. I was 6 hours drive away, in the middle of a busy packed week of assignments and classes to attend. I knew my Mom was exhausted and emotionally drained, I knew my Dad was feeling miserable, I knew my brothers were trying to hold down the fort.... and all I wanted to do was rush home to give hugs and make dinner and just BE together.

Let's just say, my heart was quite burdened that day as I walked across campus in the sunshine with the lovely weather and the happy birds and the college students who were totally self absorbed and complaining about how they couldn't get their very necessary latte that day before class because the line was too long and whatever whatever.... and I was so frustrated. How could they complain about that while my Dad was in the hospital??

When we carry heavy things in our hearts it's so easy to feel alone and forgotten... And yet sometimes we LET our hearts be heavy with things when we don't need to... because I think we forget the love of our Lord more often than anything...

"Don't let anything disturb you; Don't let this make you afraid. Though the worst is getting worse now, All these things will pass away. Every morning has a sunset; Every dark night has a dawn. Patience tells you you're not done yet: Day will come, and you'll go on. Though you're tired and you're frightened; Though your dreams are full of dread, Still, the love of God suffices For whatever lies ahead.

Though the world is bent on conquest, All its riches turn to rust. You have God, so you have all things: God alone will be enough. For the sands of time are shifting, But God's love will never change. When that final veil is lifted, You'll see you've always known his face. God is with you now at midnight; God is with you now at noon. If you fall or if you still fight, God will not abandon you."

Maybe it's just the tune, but I think this song made me shift my perspective. Made me realize that no matter what, no matter how disturbed or grieved, alone or angry, no matter how in ruins the world is.... God's Love is bigger. His Love suffices. It is sufficient. Wow.

I don't know about you, but I feel grief deeply in my heart. I feel negative emotions very deeply, especially the sad ones. I've thought before in the midst of some of my heaviest days that I would burst for how heavy inside my heart was.... and yet His love is bigger than even that?

How is it that I so quickly forget my Savior's love? I get a little stressed, a little busy, a little discouraged... and woe is me... I'm all alone and no one remembers me.... and yet it's so not true. It's me who's done the forgetting.

Some of you may be going through horribly tough challenges right now. Some are carrying fears. Some are holding loss, and some are anticipating loss. Some of you may be trapped in a chronic stress response and some of you may be pretending everything's fine even while you face difficulty.

I don't know what you're facing or how it feels... but if you're human... (and I hope you are, otherwise we have some other issues...) I'm pretty sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.

This song has significantly encouraged me this week and helped me switch my perspective back to the Lord and how amazing His love is. I hope this encourages you too. Whatever you're facing, big or small, His love suffices. God alone will be enough.

Happy Friday!

~Isabel Grace

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