![\"hangin\"](\"https:\/\/corehealingfromtrauma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/hangin.png\" "\\"hangin\\"")
\n\tIn my home state of Wisconsin, October is a time of crisp fall days, crunchy apples, and vibrantly colored leaves. In Florida, fall is a time to enjoy sunshine and anticipate Christmas. For many, like me, it\u2019s not too early for Christmas carols.<\/p>\n
During a New York City Christmas season years ago, carols wafted through the air when my friend Suzan and I made an \u201cessential\u201d stop in a busy department store restroom. The line loomed long, and weary shoppers were strangely quiet\u2014that is, until a homeless woman shattered the silence. Blustering into the crush of humanity, she loudly (urgently) announced, \u201cIt\u2019s hangin\u2019 by a thread; it\u2019s hangin\u2019 by a thread!\u201d As one, the line stepped aside for her to blithely rush ahead of us all. (We were afraid to imagine what<\/em> was hanging by a thread.)<\/p>\n During the current onslaught of pandemic and political news, do you feel like you\u2019re barely hanging on? Are you stressed out? In Jesus, we can experience stability, hope, and authentic joy. Instead of being driven by distressing news, we can be at rest, realizing God promises to provide everything we need to not merely survive but thrive amidst changes and challenges.<\/p>\n Jesus understands our struggles and concerns. He asks, Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you\u2019ll recover your life. I\u2019ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me\u2014watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won\u2019t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you\u2019ll learn to live freely and lightly <\/em>(Matthew 11:28-29, The Message).<\/p>\n I can almost hear someone saying, \u201cWait a minute! I\u2019ve had a lot of \u2018heavy\u2019 things happen lately. Our country is in chaos; I\u2019ve lost friends and loved ones in the pandemic.\u201d For these and other hard things, Jesus says, My strength is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness<\/em> (2 Corinthians 12: 9, ESV). He doesn\u2019t ask us to do what only He can do. He provides His strength in our weakness, His hope when we\u2019re weary, and joy for each new day.<\/p>\n Instead of \u201changing by a thread,\u201d we can allow God to uphold us in His love. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together<\/em> (Colossians 1:17, NASU).<\/p>\n I\u2019d appreciate your feedback. Please email me at marti@pbcounseling.com<\/a><\/strong> with ideas for future blog articles\u2014or your thoughts about this or past articles. Thank you!!<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\tSubscribe on YouTube\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h2>\n\t