The headlines shouted across the glaring screen, and my heart dropped lower than I thought it could go. It seemed that for a moment I felt the weight and the sadness of the world crashing upon me.
But in the next moment I heard a whisper, stronger than the weight, deeper than the sadness:
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31
Mark 6:31 NIV
Are you also feeling those anxious mind-racing thoughts that threaten to pull your heart down? Our Lord Jesus has called us to lay the weight down and find His quiet rest.
~~~~~~~~~
I had prepared this short prayer prompt to share with the Chronic Joy Ministry website weeks ago, little knowing that God would personally ask me to come away with Him for a time.
After a hard weekend with yet another allergic reaction, this time from the mild sedative that they gave me before the MRI on Friday, I felt my good intentions crumbling around me. As I posted my own prayer request at the #PrayerPond on Friday night, I felt the throbbing urgency of a throat swelling with hives stained purple, and a face too tight to move. As the prayers of others carried me to HIS throne room, I saw the weight of this world suddenly narrowed into my one place of living.
And the call of Jesus to come away with Him suddenly became the call I could not ignore. While the next six weeks are filled with intense treatments that I cannot begin to predict (who would have predicted allergic hives after a simple sedative?) my Father God can see the whole path already. I long to rest in HIS heart and to hear HIS words for me.
So I will be taking a break from blogging here over the next several weeks. I will gladly respond to emails through the “Contact Me” form above. And I will still be sharing prayers with the Chronic Joy Prayer Pond page, because my heart has been called to slow, to pray, and to listen.
Maybe you can hear that same calling?
Would you join me over at Chronic Joy to finish reading this post about a simple time of quiet prayer? Click here to read.
And while I was in the MRI chamber, with the headphones provided by the hospital, “listening” to the Christian music station they provided, I was only able to hear one song over the loud booming of the machine.
It was a song that only our Lord could have provided:
I am linking with: #LegacyLinkUp #TellHisStory
BettieGsRAseasons 
Praying for you dear friend. Thank you for your encouragement and support. You inspire me everyday. Two times today, I have heard/read messages about being still and listening for God. I believe I need to be still and listen for the message He has for me. Have a blessed week! 🙂
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Dear Melissa,
Oh I love the way that God brings His confirmations to us. Your words have encouraged me so much today. I pray that He will bring His sweet message of stillness to you, as only He can do. Blessings and hugs to you dear friend.
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Praying for you dear friend 😕
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Dear Ifeoma,
Thank you so very much dear friend! I appreciate your prayers and love so much. Hugs and love across the sea for you. xoxo
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I am soooo very sorry you went through all that. I know how scary it is to keep calm during a reaction and it sounds as if you were amazing!!!! Please take a lovely, much needed break to rest and rejuvinate! God bless you my dear friend.
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Dear Wendi, I know that the prayers of so many have been so vital to getting through these days. I had some huge times of discouragement, but I am so grateful that the Lord met me in the middle there. He is so faithful. Thank you so much for all of your prayers dear friend. God bless you too!
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I am so happy that you can feel the prayers of many and God’s walk through even your darkest times……
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Amen! Blessings and prayers for you too, dear friend.
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🙂 thank you so very much…….I happily and thankfully receive them.
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GOD will give us the strength, Bettie, to witness further His love for us so we can praise Him for His saving grace and blessings; including, the air that we breathe, knowing the Triune GOD more, trusting Him relentlessly knowing all things work for our for His glory, and so much more. Great indeed is His faithfulness. Praying for you my friend. GOD bless you and your family! Keep safe.
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Amen, dear Friend! He brings us such saving grace and blessings! I pray that I would trust Him more and see His working all things for His glory through these days. Thank you for your prayers. May the Lord bless and keep you as well!
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I will be praying for you, Bettie during this time. I pray God is with you during this time and reveals the next steps in your treatments.
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you so much for your prayers. I appreciate them all so much. I pray that God continues to be with you and your family as you settle into your new home!
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Dear Bettie, I’m so sorry for the worrying side effects you are experiencing as you begin a new, lengthy treatment regime. It definitely feels like a burden too big to carry alone even when you have others seeking to bear some of it for you in prayer. But there comes a time, a season maybe, when we’re too fatigued to think straight and too depleted to function as we want to. Then God simply whispers a gentle invitation for His cherished daughter to come aside and abide with Him for a while, taking off the pressure to perform and allowing us to just be real before Him. May you truly benefit in every way from the next few weeks of pulling back. May you be rested, refreshed and restored body and soul as you trust God to see you through the treatments still to come. Sending much love, ongoing prayers and gentle hugs across the pond. xoxo PS: I’ve also left a comment on the Chronic Joy site. 🙂 ❤
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Dear Joy,
Thank you so much for your encouraging comfort and prayers dear friend. I am so grateful that He knows just when it’s time to send out that “gentle invitation for His cherished daughter to come aside and abide with Hime for a while.” Such a sweet gift when I think of it that way, and remember that He is the one issuing the invitation. I pray that we both will respond to His gentle promptings during this extra weighty time that is affecting us even as the whole world is also affected. I am so grateful for your inspiration and support as you walk this pathway. May you know what a gift you have been to me. Blessings, love, and hugs to you dear friend! xoxo
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Sovereign Over Us is one of my favourite Michael W Smith songs. Absolutely love it. And glad that God gave you that song to focus on during your treatment. I will be keeping you in my prayers as always, Bettie! hugs!
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Dear Lynn,
Yes, I almost started crying when I realized what song I was hearing. But of course that wasn’t the place to be able to wipe tears away! 🙂 So, God was gracious to hold me still even then. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and beautiful encouragement. Blessings, love, and hugs to you!
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You are in my thoughts and prayers!
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Dear Michelle,
Thank you so very much! Your prayers mean so much to me. Blessings to you!
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You will remain in my heart and prayers, Bettie. I hope and pray these treatments will be successful without the awful side effects you had before. Underneath you are His everlasting arms of love! I love this song, too. So encouraging that God is faithful and Sovereign and is working in the waiting. Love and blessings to you, my friend!
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Dear Trudy,
Thank you so much for that precious reminder that, “underneath you are His everlasting arms of love!” He truly is so faithful and near to us, always showing us that He has not ever abandoned us. I pray that I will rest even more deeply in His Word there. I am sending my prayers for you also, dear friend. Blessings, love and hugs to you!
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Sending prayers and strength Bettie, He will always be there for you 💜
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Oh, thank you so much for your prayers! They truly mean so much to me. Blessings to you!
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Oh, Bettie! I am SO sorry to hear of all you are facing and going through. I am praying for you, my friend, and sending hugs.
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Dear Cheryl,
Thank you so very much for all of your prayers. I am so grateful for the gift of shared prayers. Love you!
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Hearing the same voice, my friend. He’s calling me to times of quiet with Scripture, and to a renewed dependancy on prayer. I keep asking for grace not to waste this season.
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Dear Michele,
Amen. May He truly give us HIS grace during this season. His call to quiet with His Word is such a precious place. Blessings and love to you, dear sister.
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Good afternoon, Bettie, I have been away about a week. I am glad I saw this. I am praying for your infusion tomorrow sister. I will also pray God draw you near in this time of focus and listening. If you need specific prayer, you know how to find me 🙂 Love, Julie
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Thank you so much, dear Julie! I appreciate your prayer so much!! I am sorry that I have not kept up with my messages to you–I am so glad that you stopped in here today to see this update. I have been quiet on Social Media also, but I am glad that God makes sure we know to pray for each other. He is so very good to us!! Love and prayers for you today also, dear sister! xoxo
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Oh please don’t apologize dear Bettie. I understand. It is hard to keep up with all. Just know God showed me this blog just when I need to see it, as you will retreat under His wings and step away for a bit.
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Dear Julie,
Oh thank you for your precious gift of praying for me during this time. He is such a good, good potter,shaping us for His good purposes. Thank you for sharing that beautiful song too. Love you, and keeping you in my prayers too.
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Oh Bettie, my heart hurts for you. Yet, your heart of faith in Christ shines on so brightly. May He hold you close as you receive treatments and prayerfully recover. I’m lifting you in prayer right now. Lord Jesus, send my sweet sister Bettie a special touch today, that she knows Your love, Your grace, Your gentle presence and Yes, Your sovereignty. May you bring heavenly beauty from these ashes of pain. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Sending love and hugs, dear Bettie.
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Dear Melissa,
Oh, I am so thankful for your prayers this weekend. It has been a very intense time of treatements, and allergic reactions, and medication effects. And yet I do feel God’s love, grace, gentle presence and HIS sovereignty so close over my days. And now, I pray for those same gifts over you also, Melissa. May the Lord bless you today. Love and hugs for you too.
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