Coffee.
Just the thought of it makes me smile.
Mmmm…coffee.
Every morning my favorite mug sits ready for me to brew of fresh cup of coffee into her; I think the warmth and richness of it makes her smile too!
After Jesus and my man, I’d have to say that this delicious beverage is my next best friend.
Coffee, oh how I heart thee!
But here’s the deal…I do NOT like, love, nor remotely consider sipping on a cup of “blah!” coffee.
By “blah!” coffee, I mean bitter, flavorless, icky coffee; it makes me gag.
I like to show my coffee a little extra lovin’ before I begin sipping. For instance, I add one packet of yummy Stevia in the Raw and then pour in Vanilla Caramel creamer. And yes, there is an exact method to this process.
Brew the perfect cup of coffee. Pour in the Stevia. Stir. Shake creamer and begin pouring. Count slowly to three- 1…2…3…- stir. And ta-da, done!
“Blah!” coffee made oh, so scrumptious!!
“Blah!” coffee has got me to thinkin’ about something. My life; my sometimes “blah!” life.
I know God loves me with an “everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3, NLT) and I know Jesus came to “give me a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10, NLT), but sometimes I don’t feel so loved or rich or satisfied. Sometimes I just feel “blah!”.
Sometimes my life is bitter, flavorless, and plain out icky.
Have you ever been just “blah!”? There’s myriad of circumstances and situations that can push us into the “blah!”. Loss of a job, illness, dwindling funds in the checking AND savings accounts. Kids going crazy, acting like they’ve lost every ounce of sense they had. Husband always working late and leaving you to do everything. Puppies pooping on the floor again. A burned dinner. Your favorite pair of jeans ruined by bleach. Sippy cups full of milk forgotten in the mini-van leaving it to smell like a dairy cow blew up in there. A beautiful mural created by your toddler with a permanent marker on the back of your new sofa. A phone call from the high school informing you that your child has skipped school…again. All things that, when you finally sit down at night and breathe for the first time all day, cause you to shake your head and say, “If Jesus loves me, why is my life so “blah!”?”
What do we do when the “blah!” rears her ugly head? We press harder into Jesus! Ok…let me be completely honest with you…I used to get really miffed when I was smack dab in the middle of the “blah!” and someone would say, “Honey, you need to pray. Give it all to Jesus,” or “When was the last time you spent time in the Word?” Man, that would send me reeling with anger! Because, in the middle of the “blah!” I didn’t want to pray and I didn’t want to read my Bible. I just wanted the “blah!” to go away. And so, I wouldn’t pray and I wouldn’t get in the Word. I would continue to go about my days just as I had been, secretly hoping it would all go away. But, you know what? The “blah!” would still be there.
And, so I’ve learned, through many times of “blah!”, that when she rears her ugly head I HAVE to pray and I HAVE to get in the Word. I HAVE TO! I have to do my part. I have to act. Just like with my coffee remaining bitter and flavorless and icky if I don’t show it a little extra lovin’, my “blah!” life is going to hang around until I press harder into Jesus. Secretly hoping for the “blah!” to go away doesn’t work! Jesus is only One who can take our “blah!” and make it delicious and sweet and palatable to ourselves and others.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] (Matthew 11:28, Amplified Bible). He said, “Come to Me,” which means action on our part. When cannot continue to sit in the “blah!” and expect it to dissipate from our lives. We must go to Jesus. And when we go to Him with all the “blah!” He promises to relieve and refresh our souls. He doesn’t promise to take it all away but He does promise to strengthen and help us in our time of need (Isaiah 41:10, NLT).
And not only will He give strength and help, but He promises that we will taste of His goodness; His delicious, wonderful goodness.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”
Psalm 34:8, NLT
Does today find you in the “blah!”? My friend, I’ve been there! And, I know firsthand that Jesus is the perfect “blah!” remover; He really is. I also completely understand if you are hesitant to press harder into Him right now. And, I want you to know it’s okay to be in that place. What’s not okay though, is for you to stay there! So, I’m going to pray for you. I’m going to pray that your hunger for Jesus and His Word increases. I’m going to pray that you won’t settle for a life of “blah!” but will have an ever growing desire to experience a delicious, abundant, satisfying life in Jesus.
There’s no ifs ands or buts about it…Jesus loves you with an everlasting love and He came to turn your “blah!” into pure yumminess.
